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Eduardo Eizirik - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a revised taxonomy of the Felidae the final report of the cat classification task force of the iucn cat specialist group
Cat News, 2017Co-Authors: Andrew C Kitchener, Christine Breitenmoserwursten, Anthea Gentry, Alexei V Abramov, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Per Christiansen, Eduardo Eizirik, Lars Werdelin, Andreas Wilting, Carlos A DriscollAbstract:1. The current classification of the Felidae was reviewed by a panel of 22 experts divided into core, expert and review groups, which make up the Cat Classification Task Force CCTF of the IUCN Cat ...
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A revised taxonomy of the Felidae. The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group
2017Co-Authors: Andrew C Kitchener, Anthea Gentry, Alexei V Abramov, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Per Christiansen, Eduardo Eizirik, Lars Werdelin, Andreas Wilting, Christine Breitenmoser-würsten, Carlos A DriscollAbstract:The main task of the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group is the continuous review of the conservation status of all cat species and subspecies according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species process. A critical subject in this task is the systematic classification of the cat family, the Felidae. The taxonomy of cats has undergone considerable changes in the past, not only at the level of species and subspecies, but even at the level of genus. The classification presently used by the Cat Specialist Group was published in Wild Cats – Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan edited by K. Nowell and P. Jackson (published by IUCN 1996) and is based on the state of research in the early 1990s. Since then mainly studies using more advanced morphological, biogeographical and, foremost, molecular techniques have provided new insights into cat phylogeny and variation, suggesting several important changes with regard to species and subspecies, and the evolutionary relationships between genera and species. These changes may impact on the Red List process and on the listing of taxonomic units in international treaties and national legislation. Therefore the classification used by IUCN institutions has significance beyond the Red List. The Cat Specialist Group initiated a review of the present taxonomic system of the Felidae by an expert group, the Cat Classification Task Force CCTF. Their Terms of Reference were endorsed by Dr Simon Stuart, IUCN/SSC Chair 2008-2016.
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a revised taxonomy of the Felidae the final report of the cat classification task force of the iucn ssc cat specialist group
Kitchener A.C. Breitenmoser-Würsten C. Eizirik E. Gentry A. Werdelin L. Wilting A. Yamaguchi N. Abramov A.V. Christiansen P. Driscoll C.A. Duckworth J, 2017Co-Authors: Andrew C Kitchener, Christine Breitenmoserwursten, Anthea Gentry, Alexei V Abramov, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Per Christiansen, Eduardo Eizirik, Lars Werdelin, Andreas Wilting, Carlos A DriscollAbstract:The main task of the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group is the continuous review of the conservation status of all cat species and subspecies according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species process. A critical subject in this task is the systematic classification of the cat family, the Felidae. The taxonomy of cats has undergone considerable changes in the past, not only at the level of species and subspecies, but even at the level of genus. The classification presently used by the Cat Specialist Group was published in Wild Cats – Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan edited by K. Nowell and P. Jackson (published by IUCN 1996) and is based on the state of research in the early 1990s. Since then mainly studies using more advanced morphological, biogeographical and, foremost, molecular techniques have provided new insights into cat phylogeny and variation, suggesting several important changes with regard to species and subspecies, and the evolutionary relationships between genera and species. These changes may impact on the Red List process and on the listing of taxonomic units in international treaties and national legislation. Therefore the classification used by IUCN institutions has significance beyond the Red List. The Cat Specialist Group initiated a review of the present taxonomic system of the Felidae by an expert group, the Cat Classification Task Force CCTF. Their Terms of Reference were endorsed by Dr Simon Stuart, IUCN/SSC Chair 2008-2016.
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Identification and characterization of diverse groups of endogenous retroviruses in felids
Retrovirology, 2015Co-Authors: Helena Mata, Brunna M. Alves, Marcelo A. Soares, Eduardo Eizirik, Jaime Gongora, Ana Paula RavazzoloAbstract:Background Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are genetic elements with a retroviral origin that are integrated into vertebrate genomes. In felids (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae), ERVs have been described mostly in the domestic cat, and only rarely in wild species. To gain insight into the origins and evolutionary dynamics of endogenous retroviruses in felids, we have identified and characterized partial pro/pol ERV sequences from eight Neotropical wild cat species, belonging to three distinct lineages of Felidae. We also compared them with publicly available genomic sequences of Felis catus and Panthera tigris, as well as with representatives of other vertebrate groups, and performed phylogenetic and molecular dating analyses to investigate the pattern and timing of diversification of these retroviral elements.
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How the Leopard Hides Its Spots: ASIP Mutations and Melanism in Wild Cats
PloS one, 2012Co-Authors: Alexsandra Schneider, Warren E Johnson, Victor A. David, Stephen J. O'brien, Gregory S. Barsh, Marilyn Menotti-raymond, Eduardo EizirikAbstract:The occurrence of melanism (darkening of the background coloration) is documented in 13 felid species, in some cases reaching high frequencies at the population level. Recent analyses have indicated that it arose multiple times in the Felidae, with three different species exhibiting unique mutations associated with this trait. The causative mutations in the remaining species have so far not been identified, precluding a broader assessment of the evolutionary dynamics of melanism in the Felidae. Among these, the leopard (Panthera pardus) is a particularly important target for research, given the iconic status of the ‘black panther’ and the extremely high frequency of melanism observed in some Asian populations. Another felid species from the same region, the Asian golden cat (Pardofelis temminckii), also exhibits frequent records of melanism in some areas. We have sequenced the coding region of the Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) gene in multiple leopard and Asian golden cat individuals, and identified distinct mutations strongly associated with melanism in each of them. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detected among the P. pardus individuals was caused by a nonsense mutation predicted to completely ablate ASIP function. A different SNP was identified in P. temminckii, causing a predicted amino acid change that should also induce loss of function. Our results reveal two additional cases of species-specific mutations implicated in melanism in the Felidae, and indicate that ASIP mutations may play an important role in naturally-occurring coloration polymorphism.
Stéphane Peigné - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Re-Appraisal of ‘Felis’ pamiri Ozansoy, 1959 (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Upper Miocene of Turkey: the Earliest Pantherin Cat?
Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 2017Co-Authors: Denis Geraads, Stéphane PeignéAbstract:Although the divergence of the Panthera clade from other Felidae might be as old as the earliest middle Miocene, its fossil record before the Pliocene is virtually non-existent. Here we reassess the affinities of a felid from the early upper Miocene of Turkey, known by well-preserved associated upper and lower dentitions. We conclude that it belongs to the same genus ( Miopanthera Kretzoi, 1938 ) as the middle Miocene ‘Styriofelis’ lorteti (Gaillard, 1899 ), and that this genus is close to, if not part of, the Panthera clade.
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re appraisal of felis pamiri ozansoy 1959 carnivora Felidae from the upper miocene of turkey the earliest pantherin cat
Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 2017Co-Authors: Denis Geraads, Stéphane PeignéAbstract:Although the divergence of the Panthera clade from other Felidae might be as old as the earliest middle Miocene, its fossil record before the Pliocene is virtually non-existent. Here we reassess the affinities of a felid from the early upper Miocene of Turkey, known by well-preserved associated upper and lower dentitions. We conclude that it belongs to the same genus (Miopanthera Kretzoi, 1938) as the middle Miocene ‘Styriofelis’ lorteti (Gaillard, 1899), and that this genus is close to, if not part of, the Panthera clade.
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Re-Appraisal of ‘Felis’ pamiri Ozansoy, 1959 (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Upper Miocene of Turkey: the Earliest Pantherin Cat?
Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Denis Geraads, Stéphane PeignéAbstract:International audienceAlthough the divergence of the Panthera clade from other Felidae might be as old as the earliest middle Miocene, its fossil record before the Pliocene is virtually non-existent. Here we reassess the affinities of a felid from the early upper Miocene of Turkey, known by well-preserved associated upper and lower dentitions. We conclude that it belongs to the same genus (Miopanthera Kretzoi, 1938) as the middle Miocene ‘Styriofelis’ lorteti (Gaillard, 1899), and that this genus is close to, if not part of, the Panthera clade
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systematics and phylogeny of the small felines carnivora Felidae from the late miocene of europe a new species of felinae from the vallesian of batallones mn 10 madrid spain
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 2012Co-Authors: Manuel J. Salesa, Mauricio Antón, Jorge Morales, Stéphane PeignéAbstract:The Spanish fossil localities of Batallones-1 and Batallones-3 are two Vallesian (Late Miocene) natural traps known for their high concentration of carnivoran mammals. These include amphicyonids, ailurids, mustelids, ursids, hyaenids, machairodont felids, and two species of small-bodied felines, one the size of an European wildcat, Felis sylvestris, and the other the size of a caracal, Caracal caracal. Although these felines are much less abundant at the sites than their larger relatives, the sabre-toothed felids, the available samples from Batallones-1 and Batallones-3 are rich; they include postcranial elements, skulls and mandibles of the smaller species, while the larger feline species is solely known from postcranial elements recorded at Batallones-1. The small feline from Batallones-1 and Batallones-3, although showing similarities with the Turolian felines, is more related to the Middle Miocene genus Styriofelis Kretzoi, 1929, and thus we propose for it the new species name Styriofelis vallesiensis...
Stephen J. O'brien - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The dynamic proliferation of CanSINEs mirrors the complex evolution of Feliforms
BMC evolutionary biology, 2014Co-Authors: Kathryn B. Walters-conte, Warren E Johnson, Stephen J. O'brien, Diana L. E. Johnson, Jill Pecon-slatteryAbstract:Repetitive short interspersed elements (SINEs) are retrotransposons ubiquitous in mammalian genomes and are highly informative markers to identify species and phylogenetic associations. Of these, SINEs unique to the order Carnivora (CanSINEs) yield novel insights on genome evolution in domestic dogs and cats, but less is known about their role in related carnivores. In particular, genome-wide assessment of CanSINE evolution has yet to be completed across the Feliformia (cat-like) suborder of Carnivora. Within Feliformia, the cat family Felidae is composed of 37 species and numerous subspecies organized into eight monophyletic lineages that likely arose 10 million years ago. Using the Felidae family as a reference phylogeny, along with representative taxa from other families of Feliformia, the origin, proliferation and evolution of CanSINEs within the suborder were assessed. We identified 93 novel intergenic CanSINE loci in Feliformia. Sequence analyses separated Feliform CanSINEs into two subfamilies, each characterized by distinct RNA polymerase binding motifs and phylogenetic associations. Subfamily I CanSINEs arose early within Feliformia but are no longer under active proliferation. Subfamily II loci are more recent, exclusive to Felidae and show evidence for adaptation to extant RNA polymerase activity. Further, presence/absence distributions of CanSINE loci are largely congruent with taxonomic expectations within Feliformia and the less resolved nodes in the Felidae reference phylogeny present equally ambiguous CanSINE data. SINEs are thought to be nearly impervious to excision from the genome. However, we observed a nearly complete excision of a CanSINEs locus in puma (Puma concolor). In addition, we found that CanSINE proliferation in Felidae frequently targeted existing CanSINE loci for insertion sites, resulting in tandem arrays. We demonstrate the existence of at least two SINE families within the Feliformia suborder, one of which is actively involved in insertional mutagenesis. We find SINEs are powerful markers of speciation and conclude that the few inconsistencies with expected patterns of speciation likely represent incomplete lineage sorting, species hybridization and SINE-mediated genome rearrangement.
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How the Leopard Hides Its Spots: ASIP Mutations and Melanism in Wild Cats
PloS one, 2012Co-Authors: Alexsandra Schneider, Warren E Johnson, Victor A. David, Stephen J. O'brien, Gregory S. Barsh, Marilyn Menotti-raymond, Eduardo EizirikAbstract:The occurrence of melanism (darkening of the background coloration) is documented in 13 felid species, in some cases reaching high frequencies at the population level. Recent analyses have indicated that it arose multiple times in the Felidae, with three different species exhibiting unique mutations associated with this trait. The causative mutations in the remaining species have so far not been identified, precluding a broader assessment of the evolutionary dynamics of melanism in the Felidae. Among these, the leopard (Panthera pardus) is a particularly important target for research, given the iconic status of the ‘black panther’ and the extremely high frequency of melanism observed in some Asian populations. Another felid species from the same region, the Asian golden cat (Pardofelis temminckii), also exhibits frequent records of melanism in some areas. We have sequenced the coding region of the Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) gene in multiple leopard and Asian golden cat individuals, and identified distinct mutations strongly associated with melanism in each of them. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detected among the P. pardus individuals was caused by a nonsense mutation predicted to completely ablate ASIP function. A different SNP was identified in P. temminckii, causing a predicted amino acid change that should also induce loss of function. Our results reveal two additional cases of species-specific mutations implicated in melanism in the Felidae, and indicate that ASIP mutations may play an important role in naturally-occurring coloration polymorphism.
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Comparative genome organization of the major histocompatibility complex: lessons from the Felidae.
Immunological reviews, 1999Co-Authors: Stephen J. O'brien, Naoya YuhkiAbstract:The mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has taught both immunologists and evolutionary biologists a great deal about the patterns and processes that have led to immune defenses. Driven principally by human and mouse studies, comparative MHC projects among other mammalian species offer certain advantages in connecting MHC genome characters to natural situations. We have studied the MHC in the domestic cat and in several wild species of Felidae. Our observations affirm class I and class II homology with other mammalian orders, derivative gene duplications during the Felidae radiation, abundant persistent trans-species allele polymorphism, recombination-derived amino acid motifs, and inverted ratios of non-synonymous to silent substitutions in the MHC peptide-binding regions, consistent with overdominant selection in class I and II genes. MHC diversity as quantified in population studies is a powerful barometer of historic demographic reduction for several endangered species including cheetahs, Asiatic lions, Florida panthers and tigers. In two cases (Florida panther and cheetah), reduced MHC variation may be contributing to uniform population sensitivity to emerging infectious pathogens. The Felidae species, nearly all endangered and monitored for conservation concerns, have allowed a glimpse of species adaptation, mediated by MHC divergence, using comparative inferences drawn from human and mouse models.
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Patterns of Y and X chromosome DNA sequence divergence during the Felidae radiation
Genetics, 1998Co-Authors: Jill Pecon Slattery, Stephen J. O'brienAbstract:The 37 species of modern cats have evolved from approximately eight phylogenetic lineages within the past 10 to 15 million years. The Felidae family has been described with multiple measures of morphologic and molecular evolutionary methods that serve as a framework for tracking gene divergence during brief evolutionary periods. In this report, we compare the mode and tempo of evolution of noncoding sequences of a large intron within Zfy (783 bp) and Zfx (854 bp), homologous genes located on the felid Y and X chromosomes, respectively. Zfy sequence variation evolves at about twice the rate of Zfx, and both gene intron sequences track feline hierarchical topologies accurately. As homoplasies are infrequent in patterns of nucleotide substitution, the Y chromosome sequence displays a remarkable degree of phylogenetic consistency among cat species and provides a highly informative glimpse of divergence of sex chromosome sequences in Felidae.
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Molecular Phylogeny of Mitochondrial Cytochrome b and 12S rRNA Sequences in the Felidae: Ocelot and Domestic Cat Lineages
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 1996Co-Authors: Ryuichi Masuda, Jill Pecon Slattery, Naoya Yuhki, Jose V. Lopez, Stephen J. O'brienAbstract:Molecular phylogeny of the cat family Felidae is derived using two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b and 12S rRNA. Phylogenetic methods of weighted maximum parsimony and minimum evolution estimated by neighbor-joining are employed to reconstruct topologies among 20 extant felid species. Sequence analyses of 363 bp of cytochrome b and 376 bp of the 12S rRNA genes yielded average pair-wise similarity values between felids ranging from 94 to 99% and from 85 to 99%, respectively. Phylogenetic reconstruction supports more recent, intralineage associations but fails to completely resolve interlineage relationships. Both genes produce a monophyletic group of Felis species but vary in the placement of the pallas cat. The ocelot lineage represents an early divergence within the Felidae, with strong associations between ocelot and margay, Geoffroy's cat and kodkod, and pampas cat and tigrina. Implications of the relative recency of felid evolution, presence of ancestral polymorphisms, and influence of outgroups in placement of the topological root are discussed.
Denis Geraads - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Re-Appraisal of ‘Felis’ pamiri Ozansoy, 1959 (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Upper Miocene of Turkey: the Earliest Pantherin Cat?
Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 2017Co-Authors: Denis Geraads, Stéphane PeignéAbstract:Although the divergence of the Panthera clade from other Felidae might be as old as the earliest middle Miocene, its fossil record before the Pliocene is virtually non-existent. Here we reassess the affinities of a felid from the early upper Miocene of Turkey, known by well-preserved associated upper and lower dentitions. We conclude that it belongs to the same genus ( Miopanthera Kretzoi, 1938 ) as the middle Miocene ‘Styriofelis’ lorteti (Gaillard, 1899 ), and that this genus is close to, if not part of, the Panthera clade.
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re appraisal of felis pamiri ozansoy 1959 carnivora Felidae from the upper miocene of turkey the earliest pantherin cat
Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 2017Co-Authors: Denis Geraads, Stéphane PeignéAbstract:Although the divergence of the Panthera clade from other Felidae might be as old as the earliest middle Miocene, its fossil record before the Pliocene is virtually non-existent. Here we reassess the affinities of a felid from the early upper Miocene of Turkey, known by well-preserved associated upper and lower dentitions. We conclude that it belongs to the same genus (Miopanthera Kretzoi, 1938) as the middle Miocene ‘Styriofelis’ lorteti (Gaillard, 1899), and that this genus is close to, if not part of, the Panthera clade.
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Re-Appraisal of ‘Felis’ pamiri Ozansoy, 1959 (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Upper Miocene of Turkey: the Earliest Pantherin Cat?
Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Denis Geraads, Stéphane PeignéAbstract:International audienceAlthough the divergence of the Panthera clade from other Felidae might be as old as the earliest middle Miocene, its fossil record before the Pliocene is virtually non-existent. Here we reassess the affinities of a felid from the early upper Miocene of Turkey, known by well-preserved associated upper and lower dentitions. We conclude that it belongs to the same genus (Miopanthera Kretzoi, 1938) as the middle Miocene ‘Styriofelis’ lorteti (Gaillard, 1899), and that this genus is close to, if not part of, the Panthera clade
Carlos A Driscoll - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a revised taxonomy of the Felidae the final report of the cat classification task force of the iucn cat specialist group
Cat News, 2017Co-Authors: Andrew C Kitchener, Christine Breitenmoserwursten, Anthea Gentry, Alexei V Abramov, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Per Christiansen, Eduardo Eizirik, Lars Werdelin, Andreas Wilting, Carlos A DriscollAbstract:1. The current classification of the Felidae was reviewed by a panel of 22 experts divided into core, expert and review groups, which make up the Cat Classification Task Force CCTF of the IUCN Cat ...
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A revised taxonomy of the Felidae. The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group
2017Co-Authors: Andrew C Kitchener, Anthea Gentry, Alexei V Abramov, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Per Christiansen, Eduardo Eizirik, Lars Werdelin, Andreas Wilting, Christine Breitenmoser-würsten, Carlos A DriscollAbstract:The main task of the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group is the continuous review of the conservation status of all cat species and subspecies according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species process. A critical subject in this task is the systematic classification of the cat family, the Felidae. The taxonomy of cats has undergone considerable changes in the past, not only at the level of species and subspecies, but even at the level of genus. The classification presently used by the Cat Specialist Group was published in Wild Cats – Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan edited by K. Nowell and P. Jackson (published by IUCN 1996) and is based on the state of research in the early 1990s. Since then mainly studies using more advanced morphological, biogeographical and, foremost, molecular techniques have provided new insights into cat phylogeny and variation, suggesting several important changes with regard to species and subspecies, and the evolutionary relationships between genera and species. These changes may impact on the Red List process and on the listing of taxonomic units in international treaties and national legislation. Therefore the classification used by IUCN institutions has significance beyond the Red List. The Cat Specialist Group initiated a review of the present taxonomic system of the Felidae by an expert group, the Cat Classification Task Force CCTF. Their Terms of Reference were endorsed by Dr Simon Stuart, IUCN/SSC Chair 2008-2016.
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a revised taxonomy of the Felidae the final report of the cat classification task force of the iucn ssc cat specialist group
Kitchener A.C. Breitenmoser-Würsten C. Eizirik E. Gentry A. Werdelin L. Wilting A. Yamaguchi N. Abramov A.V. Christiansen P. Driscoll C.A. Duckworth J, 2017Co-Authors: Andrew C Kitchener, Christine Breitenmoserwursten, Anthea Gentry, Alexei V Abramov, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi, Per Christiansen, Eduardo Eizirik, Lars Werdelin, Andreas Wilting, Carlos A DriscollAbstract:The main task of the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group is the continuous review of the conservation status of all cat species and subspecies according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species process. A critical subject in this task is the systematic classification of the cat family, the Felidae. The taxonomy of cats has undergone considerable changes in the past, not only at the level of species and subspecies, but even at the level of genus. The classification presently used by the Cat Specialist Group was published in Wild Cats – Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan edited by K. Nowell and P. Jackson (published by IUCN 1996) and is based on the state of research in the early 1990s. Since then mainly studies using more advanced morphological, biogeographical and, foremost, molecular techniques have provided new insights into cat phylogeny and variation, suggesting several important changes with regard to species and subspecies, and the evolutionary relationships between genera and species. These changes may impact on the Red List process and on the listing of taxonomic units in international treaties and national legislation. Therefore the classification used by IUCN institutions has significance beyond the Red List. The Cat Specialist Group initiated a review of the present taxonomic system of the Felidae by an expert group, the Cat Classification Task Force CCTF. Their Terms of Reference were endorsed by Dr Simon Stuart, IUCN/SSC Chair 2008-2016.
