IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Barycka, E. | |
| Evolution and systematics of the feliform Carnviora | |
| 2007 Mammalian Biology (72): 257-282 | |
Recent studies have improved our knowledge about the evolution and phylogeny of feliform taxa. Detailed study on new fossil remains of extinct feliform nimravides allows a new hypothesis concerning interrelationships within this family. Many factors indicate lack of sister relationships of Nimravinae and Barbourofelinae. However, only further investigations may bring full acceptance of this hypothesis. The paraphyly of Viverridae has been resolved by excluding the taxa Nandinia, Prionodon and Cryptoprocta and Fossa, which today are placed basally to all remaining Feliformia (family Nandiniidae), as sister taxon of Felidae (family Prionodontidae) and as Malagasy Carnivora lineage basal to hyaenid-herpestid clade, respectively. Still, incongruence among results concerning the systematic position of these taxa exhibits the necessity of further investigation. Detailed study revealed inconsistencies within genet and genet-like taxa phylogeny, which have still to be resolved. Malagasy Carnivora belong to a separate lineage, which originated from herpestid-hyaenid ancestors and colonised Madagascar during a single colonisation event. However, interrelationships among Malagasy Carnivora are poorly resolved. The situation of the social mongooses clade was resolved by including ethologic data to phylogenetic analyses; however, there is little information on solitary mongooses, which have a paraphyletic status today. Felid morphology and taxonomic revision attained during recent years show greater evolutionary differentiation. Nevertheless, no clear taxonomy has been achieved. New investigating methods are required. In the hyaenid family, which includes only four living species, some investigations related to the ecomorphological evolutionary path have been performed. The comparisons of fossil and subfossil remains with modern feliforms, combined with recent molecular methods, may improve our knowledge. |
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