- Home
- Felis silvestris
Felis silvestris
Order: Carnivora > Family: Felidae > Genus: Felis > Species: Felis silvestris
Type Description
Die Saugethiere, 3(23):397.
Type Locality
Not given. Fixed by Haltenorth (1953) as 'ielleicht Nordfrankreich'. Listed by Pocock (1951) as 'Germany'.
Measurements
Head and body: 470-660 mm
Tail length: 200-380 mm
Weight: 3-6.5 kg
Tail length: 200-380 mm
Weight: 3-6.5 kg
Description
While it resembles the domestic cat (to which it is closely related) there is much variation in coat color within the species.
Distribution
Widely distributed throughout Africa, Felis silvestris can be found in almost all habitats from woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and steppes except extensive areas of desert and rainforest. (Kingdon, 1989, 1997)
Key References
1. Kingdon, J. 1989. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Carnivores). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 3A:312-317. 2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 276-277.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:793-801.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1:793-801.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.