IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kitchener, A.C.; van Valkenburgh, B.; Yamaguchi, N. | |
| Felid form and function | |
| 2010 Book Chapter | |
In this chapter we explore the form and function of felids to show how the felid body plan is adapted to typical felid hunting, including waiting in ambush (pelage colouration and markings), and detecting (senses), stalking (skeleton), catching (paws and jaws), killing (teeth and claws), processing, and eating (teeth and tongue) prey. We will also look in detail at the few specialist cats to see how the basic cat body plan has evolved to broaden the functional and ecological niche of the Felidae. Our review is based on Ewer (1973) and Kitchener (1991), but we update these previous works with the latest anatomical, physiological, molecular, and functional analyses of current and past felids. In particular, the refinement of molecular and morphological phylogenies, coupled with the development of ancient DNA (aDNA) techniques, provide new opportunities to determine which character states are ancestral or derived, and whether apparently similar morphologies are the result of adaptive radiation or convergence between more distantly related lineages. Finally, we look at morphological adaptations for communication in the Felidae by reviewing variation in pelage characters used in visual signalling, laryngeal anatomy in relation to vocalizations, and the vomeronasal organ and the variety of scent glands used in olfactory communication compared with those of other carnivorans. |
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