Interspecific size regularities in tropical felid assemblages

Summary I extend an earlier analysis of size relationships in Neotropical cats to felid assemblages in tropical Africa and Asia. Jaw length is the size measure, which apparently correlates well with modal prey size. Each assemblage contains two species (convergents) that are indistinguishable in jaw length. When, the convergent species are treated as separate entities, there is little evidence of even ratios, but there is a tendency for ratios to be larger on average than expected by random assembly, especially among the larger species. This tendency may reflect greater prey size variance for the large species or fewer alternatives to prey size as a basis for niche segregation among large species. Extreme evenness in size ratios observed among the larger Neotropical cats is not repeated in the other assemblages. Because demonstration of strong size ratio evenness depends on merging the convergents, the significance of such regularity must await greater knowledge of the habits of the convergent species. Differences between the convergent species in habitat use or predatory behavior are suggested by the fact that in each convergent pair, one species has dappled (striped or spotted) coat coloration and the other a plain coat.     

Morphological patterns in the skulls of cats

Measurements on the skull and dentition of 159 specimens of 22 species of recent felid were analysed using multivariate statistical methods (principal components analysis and correspondence analysis). The resulting patterns were considered in the light of recent work on the systematics of felids (large cats and small cats were clearly differentiated). Within each group there are subgroups. In the small cat group one subgroup was found to consist of the species Lynx lynx, L. rufus, L. pardina, L. canadensis and possibly Felis manul. Another subgroup consisted of the species F. bengalensis, F. rubiginosa, F. planiceps and F. viverrina. These two subgroups agree well with other work on felid systematics. Subgroups which do not agree so well with other work were also found, and the reasons for this are considered. Within the large cats there are two species, F. concolor and Neofelis nebulosa , which are clearly deviant from the norm. The reasons for this deviation are also considered.     

从12S rRNA和Cyt b基因部分序列研究13种猫科动物的分子系统关系

为探讨中国猫科动物(Felidae)的系统发生关系,本文对中国产13种猫科动物的12SrRNA基因(约371bp)和细胞色素b基因(Cytb)部分序列(约355bp)进行了分析,并采用“最大简约法”和“最大似然法”构建了分子系统树。结果表明:在Cytb基因序列中,有113个位点存在变异(约为总位点数的31.8%),高于12SrRNA基因序列的44个变异位点(约为总位点数的11.9%);构建的分子系统树显示,猞猁(Lynxlynx)可能是中国最早起源的猫科动物,与其它猫科动物之间的亲缘关系较远,支持将其立为猞猁属(Lynx)的观点;草原斑猫(Felislibyca)、丛林猫(Felischaus)、兔狲(Otocolobusmanul)和荒漠猫(Felisbieti)具有较近的亲缘关系,支持将兔狲划归于猫属(Felis)的观点;金猫(Caopumatemminckii)、云猫(Pardofelismarmorata)具有较近的亲缘关系,但它们与猫属物种之间的亲缘关系可能较远,不支持将它们划归于猫属;豹猫(Ponailurusribengalensis)、渔猫(Prionailurusviverrinus)具有较近的亲缘关系,支持将它们同归于豹猫属(Ponailurus);云豹(Neofelisnebulosa)、豹(Pantherapardus)、雪豹(Unciauncia)、虎(Pantheratigris)具有较近的亲缘关系,支持将它们同归于豹属(Panthera)的观点     

Felinine: a urinary amino acid of Felidae

Felinine (2-amino-7-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-4-thiaheptanoic acid) has been identified in the urine of several members of the Felidae family including the cat (Felis catus). Rates of excretion of 95 mg/day have been recorded for entire male cats with entire female cats excreting around 19 mg/day. These high excretion rates in entire male cats may have a significant effect on the daily sulphur amino acid requirement. The isoamyl moiety of felinine seems to originate from the same isoprenoid pool as used for the synthesis of cholesterol in the cat. The sulphur in the felinine molecule appears to originate from cysteine, although some contradictory evidence exists. The site of synthesis and the method of transportation in the blood remain largely unknown. The biological significance of felinine to the animal is still a matter for speculation, but its function as a precursor to a pheromone seems likely. Recently, an accurate chemical assay for felinine has been developed that will allow investigation of felinine in different tissues and excretions and from a wider range of mammals.     

Biostratigraphic and palaeoecological implications of new fossil felid material from the Plio-Pleistocene site of Tegelen, the Netherlands

The Plio-Pleistocene site of Tegelen in the Netherlands contains some of the oldest evidence for the presence of the medium-sized pantherine felid of the European Pleistocene, Panthera gombaszoegensis , based on published fragmentary dental specimens. Measurements of these specimens, together with those from other localities, suggest that earlier representatives of the species are small, but one of a small number of previously unstudied specimens from the site now indicates the presence of a larger pantherine individual. Such a size difference could point to the presence of a second species, or suggest that the Tegelen deposits encompass a longer time span than has been supposed. Either of these would have serious implications; the first would increase the complexity of the early Pleistocene carnivore guild, and the second would threaten the status of Tegelen as a type site in the European Pleistocene biostratigraphic scheme. However, consideration of the size range in sexed samples of extant pantherines in conjunction with a re-examination of the size distributions in the hypodigm of P. gombaszoegensis suggests that sexual dimorphism offers a more plausible interpretation.     

Phylogenetically structured variance in felid bite force: the role of phylogeny in the evolution of biting performance

A key question in evolution is the degree to which morphofunctional complexes are constrained by phylogeny. We investigated the role of phylogeny in the evolution of biting performance, quantified as bite forces, using phylogenetic eigenvector regression. Results indicate that there are strong phylogenetic signals in both absolute and size‐adjusted bite forces, although it is weaker in the latter. This indicates that elimination of size influences reduces the level of phylogenetic inertia and that the majority of the phylogenetic constraint is a result of size. Tracing the evolution of bite force through phylogeny by character optimization also supports this notion, in that relative bite force is randomly distributed across phylogeny whereas absolute bite force diverges according to clade. The nonphylogenetically structured variance in bite force could not be sufficiently explained by species‐unique morphology or by ecology. This study demonstrates the difficulties in identifying causes of nonphylogenetically structured variance in morphofunctional character complexes.     

An unprecedented and unprovoked attack by a free-ranging ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Peruvian Amazon

We describe an incident of a wild ocelot that attacked a group of people in Southeastern Peru. Based on recorded evidence and scientific literature, we hypothesize disease affecting the central nervous system or human-induced trauma as possible explanations for this abnormal behavior.     

Nasal aperture area and body mass in felids: Ecophysiological implications and paleobiological inferences

In order to study the adaptive significance of the nasal chamber in felids (Mammalia, Carnivora), we measured the nasal aperture area and used it as an indirect estimate of the nasal chamber volume. We assume that this measurement relates to the metabolic demands for oxygen by animals, which in turn would depend on their mass, hunting techniques and/or the environment inhabited. The proven relationship between nasal aperture area and body size among living felids was used to estimate the mass and different aspects of the paleobiology of nine extinct felids from the New and Old World, six of the subfamily Machairodontinae and three of the subfamily Felinae. Results obtained confirm that the North American lion and the Eurasian cave lion were both comparable in size, with a body about 25% heavier than in today's lions. The large nasal apertures of smilodontines suggest that, compared to extant felids with skulls of similar length, these ambushing saber-tooth cats had a more robust body and thus greater oxygen demands. In contrast, coursing homotherines had longer skulls, narrower palates and a more lightened body than other saber-tooth cats.     

Food habits of the ocelot,Leopardus pardalis,in two areas in southeast Brazil

The objective of this study was to compare the diet of the ocelot at two sites in southeastern Brazil: the small (957 ha), isolated Caratinga Biological Station (CBS), Minas Gerais and the large (>44,000 ha) contiguous area, comprised of the Vale do Rio Doce Natural Reserve (VRDNR) and the Sooretama Biological Reserve (SBR). We collected 60 scats in CBS from January 1997 to July 2000. Small rodents, small marsupials and primates were the most important items in terms of frequency of occurrence. In terms of biomass consumed, the brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba) was the most important item. In the VRDNR/SBR we collected 77 scats from April 1995 to September 1996 and from January 1999 to September 2000. The main food items were armadillo (Dasypus sp.), small rodents, teju (Tupinambis merianae), and small marsupials. In VRDNR/SBR the ocelot had a more diverse diet, probably reflecting the diversity of prey species found in this area. The occurrence of ocelots in CBS indicates the adaptive flexibility of this felid to forests fragments, probably facilitated by the high biomass of potential prey – in this case, the primate Alouatta guariba.