Surely more than once you have thought of cats as a feline animal. You will also have related without hesitation that tigers, leopards or jaguars also belong to the same family. But we are wrong, since their appearances are extraordinary, but they are both included in different families, although within the felids.
Undoubtedly, Cats are felines, but tigers are not. And we have been confusing these animals all our lives, given their appearance, way of behaving and anatomy. But, nothing we believe is what it seems, since science has them classified in their own families. If you want to know more about this information, don't miss any details:
What are felids?
This family of animals is confused with felines, and no wonder. They generally all have the same physical characteristics, they are great hunters, carnivores and with similar corpulence, are called the “felidae” family.
These animals are mammals and carnivores, belonging to the family “Felines”, a family that can include up to 40 species.
If you have looked closely, they are stealthy, silent, fast and they move with great flexibility. Therefore, they are great hunters, given these characteristics, and have a predilection for live prey, being categorized as carnivores, although not all of them are.
Within these animals we find the pumas, jaguars, the Iberian lynx, leopard, lion, the cat. You can learn more about the Iberian lynx and its current status. Within the cat family, there are several varieties, such as the plate-headed cat, the Bornean cat, the African golden cat, etc.
Among other of their characteristics and as a curious fact, is that they are digitigrade, since when walking they rely only on their fingers. They all have four paws, whose hind legs have four fingers and the hind legs have five fingers, with retractable nails, a head and a short snout.
It also characterizes them for being good hunters, given their good view, especially at night, great hearing sense and ability to move.
There is an explanation we can offer regarding the terms “Felines” and “Felids”. Felids are not an excessively varied family of animals. All of them, in their variety, are between large and small, and with very similar characteristics. Within the Felidae family we can find 14 genres, which in turn are divided into 41 species or types of felines. You can check more about the types of cats that exist.
So, what are felines?
Therefore, we can say that felids are a higher subfamily of cats, as their characteristics are similar, but with many smaller features that differentiate them. However, they fall into the same category.
Felines are below felids. These beautiful animals are cats, for example, we have them closer than we think and we can more or less get an idea of all their features when it comes to imagining them. For communicating They meow and do not roar.
The panterines or Pantherinae. They are felids, but large in size. They are almost all wild and therefore roar.
The tiger, feline or felid?
There are those who dispute these two terms, but without a doubt it is usually classified within the felids. However, they are families that overlap and where families are created behind other families.
For example, tigers, lions, leopards and jaguars are from the family of “pantherines", or of the genus "phantera”, are the ones who roar.
The cheetahs They also have a particular explanation. They have very common characteristics, but their claws are not retractable. Are big felines and are classified within the subfamily of “felinae", but also to the genre "Acinonyx”. However, they are included among felines, but with some discrepancies.
The feline that we are most used to seeing is the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus). It is a companion animal and they have been with us as pets for thousands of years. If they live outside the home, you can see how they are large predators.
If they are in contact with nature you can see how they like to hunt mice, voles, lizards or pigeons. Always They bring their prey close to their owners to show their emotional side and be able to contribute as a hunting gift. They are always haughty animals, with a static model, flexible and elegant in their gait.
On the other hand, there are some species of felines that are in danger of extinction, such as the Iberian lynx, since its numbers have been eliminated due to road accidents.
Other animals are, the Snow Leopard, since their number has been reduced due to indiscriminate hunting for having exotic skin. The clouded leopard, has also been a highly sought after specimen by hunters, for its fur, bones and teeth. The destruction of its habitat has also influenced its reduction. Another animal is sumatran tiger, this specimen lives on the island of Sumatra and has been reduced due to hunting.
