Leopardus Lineage ~ Leopardus Genus

Leopardus Lineage Classification

In scientific classification (taxonomy) the small wild cats of the Leopardus lineage belong to the cat family Felidae and the small cat subfamily Felinae.

The higher and lower classifications of this group are as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)

Class: Mammalia (mammals)

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Suborder: Feliformia (cat-like)

Family: Felidae (cats)

Subfamily: Felinae (small cats)

Genus: Leopardus

Species: Leopardus pardalis (Ocelot)

Species: Leopardus wiedii (Margay)

Complex: Pampas Cat (Leopardus colocola)

Species: Leopardus braccatus (Brazilian Pampas Cat)

Species: Leopardus colocola (Central Chilean Pampas Cat)

Species: Leopardus fasciatus (Uruguayan Pampas Cat)

Species: Leopardus garleppi (Northern Pampas Cat)

Species: Leopardus pajeros (Southern Pampas Cat)

Species: Leopardus jacobita (Andean Cat)

Complex: Tiger-cat (Leopardus tigrinus)

Species: Leopardus tigrinus (Northern / Savanna Tiger Cat)

Species: Leopardus guttulus (Southern / Atlantic Forest Tiger Cat)

Species: Leopardus pardinoides (Clouded Tiger Cat)

Species: Leopardus guigna (Guiña or Kodkod)

Species: Leopardus geoffroyi (Geoffroy’s Cat)

Note: 'Lineage' is not a taxonomic unit, it is a means to categorize closely related species into evolutionary groups. The species are listed in evolutionary order / groups as per o'Brien et al. 2007.

Leopardus Genus Taxonomy updates since 2017

As at the last Felidae taxonomic revision in 2017, eight species were described. Subsequent studies have reclassified species and subspecies in this group resulting in thirteen species as at end 2023.

Here is a list of taxonomic changes to the Leopardus genus since 2017. Papers are listed on the relevant species pages.

• • 2017 - Eastern Oncilla / Tigrina (Leopardus emiliae) split from the Northern Tiger Cat (Leopardis tigrinus). (+1)
  • 2020 - Pampas Cat (Leopardus colocola) split into 5 species (L. braccatus, L. colocola, L. garleppi, L. munoai and L. pajeros). (+4)
  • 2022 - Uruguayan Pampas Cat L. munoai nomenclature corrected to L.fasciatus.
  • 2023 - Nariño Cat (Leopardus narinensis) - new species possibly already extinct. (extinct species not counted on WildCatFamily)
    • Academic article: Ruiz-Garcia et al. Morphological and Genetics Support for a Hitherto Undescribed Spotted Cat Species (Genus Leopardus; Felidae, Carnivora) from the Southern Colombian Andes. Genes 2023, 14(6), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14061266
    • Science article: New Cat Species Discovered in Museum Collection is Probably Already Extinct | Sci.News
    • Academic article stating the new species is invalid: Astorquiza et al. 2023. Distribution of the northern pampas cat, Leopardus garleppi, in northern South America, confirmation of its presence in Colombia and genetic analysis of a controversial record from the country. Mammalia. 87. 606-614. 10.1515/mammalia-2022-0114.

"Our morphological and genetic comparisons also shown that a previous record from Colombia supported by a single skin recently used to describe a new species named Leopardus narinensis belong to Leopardus tigrinus. "

• • 2024 - Clouded Tiger Cat (Leopardus pardinoides) - previously a subspecies of Northern Tiger Cat (Leopardus tigrinus). Eastern Tiger Cat L. emillae no longer valid. (+1 -1)

WildCatFamily updated here (Nov 2024)