Margay

Big cat family tree

The Cat (felidae) family tree

Pantherera family

Borneo bay cat

Caracal

Leopardus family

Lynx family (this is the Eurasian Lynx)

Cheetah (East and South Africa)

Asian leopard cat

Domestic cat and family

The Cats form an incredibly successful family. It is true that they are missing from the polar regions, and Australasia, but everywhere that they reached they have been successful, and in many ecosystems they are the undisputed kings

Panthera Family

This family split from hte Felid ancestor 10.8 million years ago. There have been some debate as to whether the two species of clouded leopards should be included in Panthera. On the circular mammal tree (which we are using – look in the species watch tab, or click here)

They are generally included in a subgenus Panthera_Neofilis

Northern lion (west African clade)

Sunda Clouded Leopard

Bay cat Familiy

Bay cat ancestor split 9.4 milion years ago

Asiatic Golden cat

Borneo bay cat

Marbled cat

Caracal Family

Caracal Ancestor split 8.5 million years ago

Caracal

African Golden Cat

Serval

Ocelot Family

Ocelot Ancestor 2.9 million years ago

Geoffrey cat

Kodkod

Tigrina or Oncilla (North and South)

Lynx Family

Lynx Ancestor 3.2 million years ago

Lynx family (this is the Eurasian Lynx)

Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ) lying down on a rock in Spain

Bobcat

Canada Lynx in the snow is gazing curiously at the camera

Puma Family

Puma ancestor 4.9 million years ago

Puma (cougar, Mountain Lion)

Jaguarundi

Cheetah

Leopard cat Family

Leopard cat Ancestor 5.9 million year ago

Domestic cat Family

Domestic cat Ancestor

Domestic cat and family

This is a relatively small wild cat that is found in central and Southern America, living in primary evergreen and deciduous forests. Until the 1990s they were illegally hunted for the wildlife trade, causing a significant decrease in the wild population. Sine 2008 they have been listed as near concern due to declining population, thought to be caused by habitat loss. It is classed as near threatened -one up from least concerned, but one down from Vulnerable.

There are currently 3 recognized subspecies, these are in turn found South of the Amazon, North of the Amazon and in Central America.

July 18, 2023January 28, 2025

World maps: explore

Zoom level changed to 1

This website aims to make it easy for those living with wildlife, and those who would like to see it, to find each other. Where-ever the wildlife, if the local people do not benefit it will not survive. Please note, on some computers these maps can take 10 seconds to load.

Explore the worlds wilds, through the map above (each country contains a list of any wild areas within it – world maps for each fo these can be found at the top of the page -“wild places, “shadow of mankind”, “Hides”, “Future places” & “sightings board”), or the species in the expandable section below. Add your destinations, by clicking on “list your wild”. Scroll down to read our latest wild news.

Species databases: click to explore

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The Cat (felidae) family tree

Panthera Family

Bay cat Familiy

Caracal Family

Ocelot Family

Lynx Family

Puma Family

Leopard cat Family

Domestic cat Family

Margay

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to list your wild place & log in

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to assist as a writer, creator, lister etc & to log in

List a destination in
the shadow of man

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missed, or submit a
one-off article

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start here if in a hurry