Comparing Cats: A Discussion of Similarities & Differences

[Acinonyx sp.]

A wonderful study concerning Herpailurus Pumoides, an extinct species which offers a juxtaposition of felid morphology and taxonomy for many different cat species.


Puma (Herpailurus) pumoides (Castellanos, 1958) nov. comb. Systematic comments and fossil record

[b]Summary. [/b]
Among the Felinae of dubious provenance described for Argentina is Felis pumoides Castellanos 1958, found in strata assigned to the Pliocene ("Brocherense horizon") of the province of Córdoba (Argentina). The cranial and post-cranial remains of the type specimen (MUFyCA 767) were first compared with all South American felids and with Acinonyx jubatus , concluding that it bears a great resemblance to the current species Puma (Herpailurus) yagouaroundi, with some features also shared with Puma (Puma) concolor and Acinonyx jubatus,species that come from well-defined evolutionary lines according to previous molecular analyses. Consequently, the taxon should be assigned as Puma (Herpailurus) pumoides n. comb. Comparison of this taxon with North American Pliocene and Pleistocene cougar species, P. (Miracinonyx) inexpectata, and Old World P. (Viretailurus) pardoides, as well as Old World Pliocene-Pleistocene cheetah species , Acinonyx pardinensis sl showed several similarities suggesting a possible origin near the basal level of the North American cougar lineage (subgenus Miracinonyx) . Due to the associated fauna and numerous subsequent works, it is possible to state thatP. (H.) pumoides comes from the Late Pliocene ("Brocherense"), constituting the oldest record of the Felinae subfamily and the Puma lineage in South America. These affinities could be evidence that the Herpailurus genus line originated in South America before the Pleistocene.

[b]Abstract. [/b]
[b]PUMA (HERPAILURUS) PUMOIDES (CASTELLANOS, 1958) NOV. COMB. SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS AND FOSSIL RECORD. Felis pumoides Castellanos 1958 is a Felinae of dubious stratigraphic provenance, reported as coming from Pliocene beds ("Brocherence horizon") from Córdoba province, Argentina. In the present paper the cranial and postcranial remains of the holotype (MUFyCA 767) were mainly compared with other South American felids and Acinonyx jubatus. It is concluded that P. pumoides possess great similarity to the recent species Puma (Herpailurus) yagouaroundi, and some shared traits with Puma (Puma) concolor .and Acinonyx jubatus. These species belong to an evolutionary line well defined by previous molecular and morphological data. Therefore, the taxon should be referred to as Puma (Herpailurus) pumoides n. comb . The comparisons of this species with the extinct cougar species from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of North America P. (Miracinonyx) inexpectata , and the Old World P. (Viretailurus) pardoides , as well as with the cheetahs from the Pliocene-Pleistocene of Old World , show extensive morphological similarities. Comparisons suggest a possible origin of South American puma lineage near the basal diverge of North American pumas (subgenus Miracinonyx).According to the associated remains and previous publications it is possible to confirm that P. (H.) pumoides comes from Upper Pliocene levels ("Brocherense"). Thus, it constitutes the earlist record for the Felidae and the Puma lineage in South America. Phylogenetic affinities of P. (H.) pumoides also indicates that the line of Herpailurus originated in South America before the Pleistocene.[/b] Reply