Family FELIDAE
Compiler and date details
December 2010 - Updated by Stephen M. Jackson, c/- Queensland Museum, Brisbane, following Van Dyck & Strahan (2008)
31 December 1998 - J.A. Mahoney & D.W. Walton (1988); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury
Introduction
The family Felidae, the cats, is represented in Australia only by an introduced species Felis catus. Members of the family are generally carnivorous, may be terrestrial and arboreal, either solitary or occur in family groups and tend to vocalise primarily during periods of reproductive activity. They are polyoestrus though most reproduce only once a year. The legs are relatively short and powerful, the feet digitigrade with five toes on the manus and four on the pes and the claws are retractile or partially so, recurved and sharp. The rostral portion of the skull is broad and short. The dental formula is 3/3, 1/1, 3/2, 1/1 = 30, but the first upper premolar is small or absent and the upper molar is reduced and has a transverse crown. Horny, posteriorly directed papillae on the tongue give it a rasp-like quality. Prey usually comprises higher vertebrates but a variety of other material may be included in diets.
Felids are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica and native forms are absent on many oceanic islands including Madagascar.
General References
Jones, E. 1989. Felidae. pp. 1006-1011 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1B 827 pp.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Oct-2013 | 13-Dec-2010 | MOVED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |