For the novel by Akif Pirinçci, see Felidae (novel). ? Felines Tiger, the largest feline found in nature. Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae G. Fischer de Waldheim, 1817 Subfamilies Felinae Pantherinae Acinonychinae Machairodontinae(extinct)
Lions, tigers, cats and other felines are members of the family Felidae. They are the most strictly carnivorous of the nine families in the order Carnivora. The first felids emerged during the Eocene, about 40 million years ago. The most familiar feline is the domestic cat or house cat (subspecies Felis silvestris catus), which first became associated with humans between 7000 and 4000 years ago. Its wild relatives still live in Africa and western Asia, although habitat destruction has restricted their range.
Other well-known members of the feline family include big cats such as the lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, and cheetah (which appears to be descended from the small cats), and other wild cats such as the lynx, puma, caracal, and bobcat. All felines, the small domestic cat included, are superpredators capable of destroying almost any creature smaller than themselves.
Some lesser known members of the feline family include hybrids bred in captivity such as the liger, and the tigon. The liger remains as the largest cat in the feline family, even surpassing the size of the tiger (it should be noted, however, that the tiger remains the largest feline found in nature).