felines - unsurpassed hunters.They are considered to be very dangerous and skilled predators.This is not surprising, because for hunting wild cats - the only way to survive in the wild.How often do we sometimes forget that the fluffy white cat who sleeps on the couch with us - a close relative of such dangerous and untamed beasts, like a tiger or lion.
first
cat feline history started in the distant prehistoric times.Approximately 70 million. Years ago, on earth I ended the era of the dinosaurs, and in their place came the first mammals.The evolution has led to the separation of the animals on the herbivores and predators.And both of them had to go a long way of development, to live up to our times.
miacids - successfully developed branch of predatory animals, according to scientists appeared 65-34 million years ago.It is believed that they were the forefathers of all the currently existing 11 families of carnivores (Dog, Cunha, Bear and others, including those we are interested in the cat family).
miacids possess small size, had a long tail and short legs, which enabled them to move easily both on the ground and in the trees.Their development is rightly suggests their supreme ancient predators.
"real" as old cat appeared about 25 million. Years ago, the size of match modern trot.Her name - psevdoailurus, an important feature of its development is considered to be the capacity for movement in the toes, so that the beast has got the opportunity to quietly sneak to the victims.Another important event in its evolution can be called the emergence of sharp fangs, common to all cats.
It was from her and takes a modern cat family.In the next millennium old cat has passed many stages of formation before reached our times in its current form.Many of these forms did not survive the competition and have disappeared from the face of the earth.Among them were, and saber-toothed tigers, extinct relatively recently - only 8000 years ago.Unfortunately, in our time, because of the person endangered predators are many felines.Because of the valuable fur people have drastically reduced their population.
Variety
truly diverse and motley cats.Representatives have noticeable differences in habits, physiology, color, and size.The smallest representative of the family feel rusty (mottled ginger) cat.
It reaches a maximum size of 48 cm (length of the body), the tail - 25 cm and weight of large males barely reaches 1.5 kg.What could this small mammals to compete with the biggest representative of the cat - a tiger, whose weight reaches 300 kg, and the length - 380 cm (including tail is about 100 cm).
Similarities
Despite such significant differences in size, there are a number of characteristics common to all who belong to the cat family.Photos of these animals shows that they have a graceful, well-proportioned body, slightly rounded head, located on a short neck, of medium length legs with soft pads and tail are usually long.
There are several important similarities related to the hunting of the animal life.
structure of the teeth. All cats have long, sharp fangs shaped like cones are slightly curved.When they bite they can inflict deep and even fatal injuries.
sharp claws. No other carnivorous animal has such sharp claws, what nature has endowed felines.This powerful tool helps the animal to easily climb trees to catch and hold their prey.And that is not the claws tupilis not spoiled, cats can hide them in a specially provided recess.This, as well as soft cushion on the feet, allow the animal to move almost silently.
way, cheetah - the only one in the family who does not have retractable claws, but he did not interfere, as they help to develop the huge beast speed, performing the function of spines (as in shoe athletes runners).
inconspicuous color. Coloring cats is very diverse, but it is inherent in one thing - the ability to disguise in the familiar environment of the animal.Whether it's color striped tiger or lion sand color - painting lets you stay invisible while hunting.
Classification
Feline conditionally partitioned into two subfamilies: the large and small cats, which, in turn, are divided into genera and species.In total there are 14 genera and 35-38 species (the number depends on the method of classification).In general, quite difficult to carry out the separation as distinguishing signs are often quite small.
big cats in the subfamily includes only 3 kind, accounted for the remaining 11 small cats.Oddly enough, the classification is based not on the size and other morphological features.Because of this, in the subfamily of small cats are representatives of larger than in the subfamily of the big cats.For example, puma, cats related to small, more than leopard, referred to the big cats.
differences
One seemingly minor differences between the two groups is the structure of the hyoid bone.At the big cats, it is made up of cartilage, while at the low part of the basics of the language is completely ossified.Perhaps it is because of this feature first cats able to roar, and the second - to purr while inhaling and exhaling.
There are some differences in behavior.Big cats trapeznichayut lying and small - sitting or standing (think of his house cat).
Another one of the differences - what form takes the pupil in bright light.For small cats becomes narrow, like a gap, and at large - is narrowed, but remains circular.
As we see significant differences between the subfamilies are not available.
Habitats
Cats spread literally all over the planet.They are able to adapt to virtually any terrain and climate.However, feral cats are absent on continents such as Australia and Antarctica.No they are also on the larger islands such as Greenland, Madagascar and New Guinea.
In Russia, the two subfamilies are common, only nine species: snow leopard, the Amur leopard, Siberian tiger, lynx, Bengal cat, house (jungle cat), wild cat, wild cat and manul.
That's all for today about the cat family.Photos, located just above shows you the snow leopard (Snow Leopard), living in our country.
