cin3ma:

Relaxing couple by Tambako the Jaguar on Flickr.

(via kersterner)

rhamphotheca:

magicalnaturetour: Panthers by chabrov :)

* or rather, melanistic leopards ;)

rhamphotheca:

World’s Oldest Tiger Species Discovered

by Charles Choi

The oldest extinct species of tiger known yet has been discovered in China, scientists say. Although the skull of the more than 2-million-year-old fossil is smaller than most modern tigers, it appears very similar in shape, researchers added.

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is one of the largest living cats, a giant predator native to Asia reaching up to 13 feet (4 meters) in length, including its tail, and weighing up to 660 pounds (300 kilograms). The beast’s origins are under intense debate, with suggestions it arose in north-central China, southern China or northern Siberia.

Now scientists have discovered a new skull and jaw from an extinct jaguar-sized tiger in northwestern China dating back 2.16 million to 2.55 million years, predating other known tiger fossils by up to a half-million years. This represents the oldest complete skull hitherto found of a pantherine cat — the lineage that includes tigers and all other living big cats…

(read more: Live Science)   (image: Velizar Simeonovski et al, PLoS ONE)

fuckyeahfelidae:

big cats by mandeep boparai on Flickr.

(via fuckyeahfelidae-deactivated2012)

fuckyeahfelidae:

Leopard-Armani_046 by BigCatRescue on Flickr.

(via fuckyeahfelidae-deactivated2012)

rhamphotheca:

African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata = Caracal aurata)

The African golden cat is a medium sized central African species. African golden cats are found across the African Equatorial belt.  The prefer the rain forest regions… here has been very little research done in the wild with African golden cats.  It is known to be mainly nocturnal, resting in trees during the day while doing some hunting during the diurnal period. There isn’t much information on the breeding cycle of African golden cats.  Their gestation is known to be 73 days with a litter size of 1-2.

The African golden cat’s status in the wild is not entirely known due to insufficient study.  They appear to be doing well in the Congo region where large expanses of pristine rain forest exist. The biggest problem facing the African golden cat in the wild, as with most feline species, is deforestation and the loss of habitat.  There is little hunting pressure because the African golden cat is taboo to many local tribes, though there are a few that use the fur in ceremonial dress…

(read more: Feline Conservation Society)

rhamphotheca:

scipsy: The Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is one of the rarest felids in the world. There are about 30-35 indiciduals remaining in the wild.

(via Amur Leopard Conservation)

wildbigcats:

Playtime! by Tambako the Jaguar on Flickr.

(Source: )