Talk:Lynx (cat)

From Academic Kids

The classification of the lynx lineage is contradictory to the classification in Felidae. There the genus Lynx is member of Felinae, and Pardofelis belongs to Pantherinae. That classification is used by Smithsonian and ITIS. We should use one classification scheme IMO, and not many inconsistent schemes. -- Cordyph 13:14 17 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I agree, Cordyph. From my bird work, I have learned to regard ITIS classifications with deep suspicion. The Smithsnian, however, is another matter entirely. Is their list recent? I'll slip over and have a look at it in a moment. Or, if you prefer, I'm happy to go with whatever classification scheme you like, as although we might want to revise it one day, it's doubtless more important to spend the bulk of our time filling in the vast empty gaps on the pedia, rather than buggerising about splitting hairs. I'll precis my source in a moment (which is pretty up-to-date with all the DNA work), then take a look at the Smithsonian list (wish their server wasn't so slow). Tannin

Hi Tannin - I didn't mean to say, that my classification scheme is "better" than yours. So I would not mind if it is changed, but it would mean to change the Felidae classification as well. The Smithsonian classification is of 1993; it lists Pardofelis as member of Pantherinae, while older classifications list the marble cat as member of the genus Felis. But may be, that this has changed in the meantime again. -- Cordyph 13:29 17 Jul 2003 (UTC)

No problem, Cordyph. Essentially, as I read the situation, it is all rather confused at present! (This DNA stuff is a two-edged sword!) It does look as though a revised cat family tree is taking shape, but whether we should adopt it yet is another question. I am all in favour of using the best and most recent information we can get. (This is a real advantage of the 'pedia - we don't have to stand or fall by an in-print publication date, we can update as often as we like.) However, we should aim to reflect the leading edge of reasarch, not try to predict it. So I guess that the best thing to do is thrash the classification around here in the talk pages and if it comes clear, then we can use it, and if it winds up staying confused, then that will be pretty good evidence that the new scheme is not yet ripe and that we should stay with the 1993 version for a year or two longer - in which case one of us can adjust the Lynx listing to fit with in with the 1993 list. (Go right ahead if you want to do that now, by the way.)

Here is what my New Encyclopedia of Mammals (Oxford, 2001) has to say (mixing their words and my paraphrasing):

"Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analysis have also clarified felid taxonomy at the subfamily level. The gene comparisons cluster the species into three major subfamilies:"

• the Ocelot lineage, 7 species: Ocelot, Tiger Cat, Margay Cat, Mountain Cat, Kodkod, Geoffroy's Cat, Pampas Cat.
• The Domestic Cat lineage, 7 species: Jungle Cat, Pallas's Cat, Sand Cat, Black-footed Cat, Wild Cat, Chinese Desert Cat.
• The pantherine lineage, 23 species

The pantherine group in turn breaks down into six monophyletic subgroups:

• Panthera genus: Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Jaguar, Snow Leopard
• Lynx group: Lynx, Canadian Lynx, Iberian Lynx, Bobcat, Marbled Cat
• Asian Leopard Cat group: Leopard Cat, Iriomote Cat, Flat-headed Cat, Fishing Cat
• Carcal group: Caracal, African Golden Cat
• Bay Cat group: Bay Cat, Asiatic Golden Cat
• Puma group: Puma, Jaguarundi, Cheetah (yes! interesting that they put the Cheetah there!)

They don't say where the Clouded Leopard belongs, with the Panthera species, I guess.

They do say that the position of the Serval and the Rusty-spotted Cat is unclear, and don't try to assign them to any group yet.

I think I'll leave this sit here in talk for a while and go and do sometimg nice and relaxing, like a species account! Another cat? Or should I start on the monkeys? There are only 4680 mammal species, give or take a few - no shortage of work to do. Tony

That is really interesting, and I have never heard before of this classification scheme. I would suggest to mention it on the Felidae page, and to keep to the more traditional classification schemes in the species accounts. I mean, placing the cheetah in a group with the puma, that sounds almost as strange as placing a bird of prey into the Ciconiiformes ;-)

Exactly!

Or we follow the Dutch wikipedia and place all cats in the genus Felis (even the lion is Felis leo there) - although I think this is not done anymore since Linnaeus' times.

That's funny, when it comes to birds, the Dutch seem to be mad keen on splitting everything in sight.

As for the species accounts, I am not in the position to tell you what to do next. Do just what you like best. But if you absolutely don't know what to do: Yesterday I did a Canidae classification. From there you could make a species account using this photo: African Wild Dog (http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilde_hond).
I was a little bit confused by the name "Tony" under the last comment. Are you now signing with your real name? Anyhow, I may do the same for a change :) -- Mirko

Excuse me, Mirko, I was just musing aloud. And the sig, well, sometime I feel that a handle is a little impersonal. I was pondering making a start on the tenrecs, but it's late, and the African Wild Dogs sound easier - tenrecs are so diverse that writing them up will be hard work, and there is the matter of their proper classification to deal with: family or order?. Maybe I'll do tenrecs tommorow instead. Tannin

---

( parking this here, at least for now)

There are three subfamilies within the family Felidae. Of these, the largest is the Pantherinae, which includes the lynxes and also the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Jaguar, and many less well-known species.

• Subfamily Pantherinae
  • Genus Panthera
  • Bay Cat lineage
  • Caracal Lineage
  • Lynx lineage
    • Lynx or Eurasian Lynx, Lynx lynx or Lynx borealis
    • Canadian Lynx, Lynx canadensis
    • Iberian Lynx or Spanish Lynx, Lynx pardinus
    • Bobcat, Lynx rufus
    • Marbled Cat, Pardofelis marmorata
  • Asian Leopard Cat lineage
  • Puma lineage