Felidae

Felidae[1] Temporal range: Oligocene–Present, 25–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Suborder:	Feliformia
Superfamily:	Feloidea
Family:	Felidae Fischer von Waldheim, 1817
Type genus
Felis Linnaeus, 1758
Subfamilies
Felinae Pantherinae †Machairodontinae †Proailurinae[2]
Felidae ranges

Felidae is a family of mammals, in the order Carnivora. Animals that belong to Felidae are called felids.

The family is of quite recent origin: the first fossils are from the Oligocene, 25 million years ago (mya). There are 41 living species, including the domestic cat, and they are monophyletic: all descended from the same ancestor.^[3]

1. ↑ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Felidae". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–548. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
2. ↑ McKenna, Malcolm C.; Bell, Susan K.; Simpson, George Gaylord (2000). "Family Felidae Fischer de Waldheim, 1817:372. Cats". Classification of Mammals. Columbia University Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-231-11013-6.
3. ↑ Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. JHU Press. p. 532. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.