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Kitchener, A.C.; Simo, F.T.; Mugerwa, B.; Sanderson, J.G.
Evidence that Temminck described _Felis aurata_ in 1825, not 1827
2022 Archives of Natural History (49): 78-85
The African golden cat, _Caracal aurata_, ranges from west through central to east Africa and is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Coenraad J. Temminck (1778-1858) described Felis aurata (African golden cat) and other new felid species in the fourth of seven monographs collected in the first volume of his Monographies de mammalogie, which was dated 1827 on the title-page. For nearly two centuries, Temminck's description of_ Felis aurata_ has therefore been cited as published in 1827. However, this is in error because the different monographs were published as they were completed and later compiled into volumes. The actual date of issue for the fourth monograph was 1825, so that the correct current citation for the African golden cat should be_ Caracal aurata_ (Temminck, 1825). This revised citation date is also applicable to the Iberian lynx, _Lynx pardinus_ (Temminck, 1825), which is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
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