Caracal (genus)

Caracal is a genus of the subfamily Felinae in the family Felidae. Previously, it was considered to be a monotypic genus, consisting of only the type species: Caracal caracal, commonly called caracal.

For other uses, see Caracal (disambiguation).

Caracal
Caracal caracal
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Caracal
Gray, 1843
Species

Caracal aurata
Caracal caracal

Genetic analysis has shown that caracal, African golden cat and serval are genetically closely related and diverged from a common ancestor about 5.4 million years ago. Therefore, it has been suggested to subordinate all of them to the genus Caracal.[1] This taxonomic classification is used in the IUCN Red List for the African golden cat.[2] It is used as a synonym for the serval.[3]

References
  1. Johnson, W. E.; Eizirik, E.; Pecon-Slattery, J.; Murphy, W.J.; Antunes, A.; Teeling, E.; O'Brien, S.J. (2006). "The Late Miocene Radiation of Modern Felidae: A Genetic Assessment" (PDF). Science. 311 (5757): 73–7. doi:10.1126/science.1122277. PMID 16400146.
  2. Bahaa-el-din, L.; Mills, D.; Hunter, L. & Henschel, P. (2015). "Caracal aurata". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T18306A50663128. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T18306A50663128.en.
  3. Thiel, C. (2015). "Leptailurus serval". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2015: e.T11638A50654625. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T11638A50654625.en. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  • Media related to Caracal at Wikimedia Commons
  • Data related to Caracal at Wikispecies


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