Neofelis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neofelis[1]
Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Neofelis
Gray, 1867
Species

The genus Neofelis contains two species, the Clouded Leopard (N. nebulosa) and the Bornean Clouded Leopard (N. diardi). The latter was only elevated by biologists to the rank of species in 2006; it was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Clouded Leopard.[2][3]

The genus is considered distinct because of the difference in skull structure compared to the other big cats.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 545-546. ISBN 0-801-88221-4. 
  2. ^ Buckley-Beason, V., et al. (2006-12-05). "Molecular Evidence for Species-Level Distinctions in Clouded Leopards". Current Biology 16 (23): 2371-2376. 
  3. ^ Kitchener, A., et al. (2006-12-05). "Geographical Variation in the Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, Reveals Two Species". Current Biology 16 (23): 2377-2383. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2006.10.066.