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Felid hybrids

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A felid hybrid is any of a number of hybrids between various species of the cat family, Felidae. This article deals with hybrids between the species of the subfamily Felinae (feline hybrids).

Authenticated felid hybrids

For hybrids between two species of the genus Panthera (lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards), see Panthera hybrid. There are no known hybrids between Neofelis (the clouded leopard) and other genera. By contrast, many genera of Felinae are interfertile with each other, though few hybridize under natural conditions, and not all combinations are likely to be viable (e.g. between the tiny rusty-spotted cat and the leopard-sized cougar).

All-wild feline hybridization

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Caracal × serval hybrids

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Main article: Caraval

A caraval is a cross between a male caracal (Caracal caracal) and a female serval (Leptailurus serval), while a male serval's and female caracal's offspring are called servicals. The first servicals were bred accidentally when the two animals were housed together at the Los Angeles Zoo. The offspring were tawny with pale spots. If a female servical is crossed to a male caracal, the result is a car-servical; if she is crossed to a male serval, the result is a ser-servical.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Bobcat × lynx

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Main article: Blynx

The blynx or lynxcat is a hybrid of a bobcat (Lynx rufus) and some other species of genus Lynx. The appearance of the offspring depends on which lynx species is used, as the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is more heavily spotted than the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). These hybrids have been bred in captivity and also occur naturally where a lynx or bobcat cannot find a member of its own species for mating.

At least seven such hybrids have been reported in the United States, outside of captivity. In August 2003, two wild-occurring hybrids between wild Canadian lynx and bobcats were confirmed by DNA analysis in the Moosehead region of Maine. Three hybrids were identified in northeastern Minnesota. These were the first confirmed hybrids outside of captivity. Mitochondrial DNA studies showed them all to be the result of matings between female Canada lynx and male bobcats. A male Canada lynx × bobcat hybrid was trapped in 1998, radio-collared and released, only to die of starvation. The female hybrid was fertile.[clarification needed] In November 2003, a spotted lynxcat was observed in Illinois, 500 miles (800 km) from normal lynx territory, but it may have been an escaped hybrid pet.

The hybrids closely resembled bobcats with larger bodies and smaller feet, but had some lynx-like features: long ear tufts and almost completely black-tipped tails. The Canada lynx is a protected species in 14 US states constituting the southern part of its historic range, but the hybrids are not protected and may be shot by hunters. However, some of odd-looking Lynx may be colour morphs of either bobcats or Canada lynx rather than hybrids. This poses the danger that protected Canada lynx are being killed.

European wildcat × jungle cat

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The Euro-chaus is a human-induced hybrid between the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the jungle cat species (Felis chaus). It should not be confused with the Euro-chausie, which is a cross between the domestic Chausie breed and a European wildcat (see below).

Margay × ocelot

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The marlot is a hybrid between a male margay (Leopardus wiedii) and female ocelot (L. pardalis). In May 1977, the Long Island Ocelot Club (LIOC) announced the birth of a marlot bred by Barbara Brocks using captive-bred parents. There was no description of the marlot, but the parent species both have rosetted or marbled patterns on a sandy background.[10][better source needed]

Margay × oncilla hybridization attempts

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There were attempts to breed the margay with the oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus) by Dutch breeder Mme Falken-Rohrle in the 1950s. These appear to have been unsuccessful.[11][page needed]

Puma hybrids

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In the 19th and 20th centuries, various cougar hybrids with differing big cats were attempted in captivity and reportedly successful, including cougar × leopard (called a pumapard), and cougar × jaguar.[12]

Additionally, at least one instance of hybridization between a cougar and an ocelot has occurred in captivity.[13]

Domestic × wild hybridization

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The domestic cat, known variously as Felis catus, F. silvestris catus, or F. lybica catus, a descendant of the African wildcat (F. lybica), has been hybridized with several wild felid species. These wild-domestic hybrids have sometimes been called "feral-domestic hybrids". However, this is a misnomer, because feral refers to a domesticated population species which has reverted to living without human caretakers. Most of these are artificial hybrids (i.e., bred intentionally by humans), though natural hybridization has occurred (see below).

Confirmed domestic cat × felid hybrids

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Some pairings have given rise to more than one variety, bred for distinctive appearances and different percentages of wild felid genes. They may thus form distinct breeds with separate breed standards, though many of these hybrids are not recognized by any major breed registry. At least two are the result of incidental interbreeding without human intervention, but the majority are the result of experimental selective-breeding hybridization (as with wolfdogs) for the exotic pet market.

  • Bengal: domestic cat × Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis, usually the P. b. bengalensis subspecies) [14][unreliable source]
  • Bristol: domestic cat × margay (Leopardus wiedii); died out in the 1990s due to fertility problems. The few remaining fertile members would be bred into the Bengal breed to improve its genetic diversity.[15]
  • Caracat: domestic cat × caracal; first case was accidental in the Moscow Zoo in 1998.
  • Chausie: domestic cat × jungle cat species (Felis chaus)
  • Kellas cat: Naturally occurring landrace, domestic cat × Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris)
  • Machbagral, viverral, and jambi: domestic cat × fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
  • Marguerite: domestic cat × sand cat (Felis margarita); kittens were born to a domestic female, in 2013 and another 20 hybrids in the United Kingdom in 2017[16]
  • Safari cat: domestic cat × Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi)[17][18]
  • Savannah: domestic cat (including Bengal) × serval (Leptailurus serval)[19]
  • Unnamed: domestic cat × African wildcat; commonly known to interbreed where their ranges overlap.[20][21]
  • Unnamed: domestic cat × Chinese Mountain Cat; hybridization found around the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in a manner similar to the Kellas cat.[22]
  • Unnamed: domestic cat × oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus): All known examples are infertile.[23]

Attempted or unconfirmed hybrids

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  • Domestic cat × bobcat (Lynx rufus): There are reports of bobcats breeding with domestic cats, but evidence of offspring remains circumstantial and anecdotal. Their interfertility is yet to be proven scientifically.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Endangered Species Conservation Federation, Inc" (PDF). FelineConservation.org. Vol. 44, no. 2. LIOC Endangered Species Conservation Federation, Inc. March–April 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23 – via Feline Conservation Federation.
  2. ^ BCR Staff (2021-08-22). "B10: Feeding Tour Guide". BigCatRescue.org. Big Cat Rescue. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  3. ^ "Zepo – In Memory". WildcatSanctuary.org. January 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  4. ^ "SERVAL AND CARACAL HYBRIDS". Messybeast.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  5. ^ "SERVAL". Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  6. ^ "Le caracal, un félin aux oreilles musclées !". GEO.fr (in French). GEO. 2022-09-08. Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  7. ^ "🔎 Félin hybride - Définition et Explications". Techno-Science.net (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  8. ^ "Town&Style 7.29.15 by St. Louis Town & Style - Issuu". St. Louis Town & Style. 2015-07-29. Retrieved 2023-03-23 – via Issuu.org.
  9. ^ "F1 Savannah Kittens". savannah-cats.com. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  10. ^ Newsletter, Long Island Ocelot Club, May 1977
  11. ^ Fernand Mery "The life, history and magic of the cat" 1967
  12. ^ "Pumapard & Puma/Jaguar Hybrids".
  13. ^ Dubost, G.; Royère, J. Y. (1993). "Hybridization between ocelot (Felis pardalis) and puma (Felis concolor)". Zoo Biology. 12 (3): 277–283. doi:10.1002/zoo.1430120305.
  14. ^ James (25 February 2018). "Bengal Cat Breed". Bengal Cat aprice.
  15. ^ "Domestic × Asian leopard cat and margay hybrids". Messybeast.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  16. ^ Ackerman, Naomi (6 January 2017). "New breed among highlights of LondonCats show in Surrey". Evening Standard.
  17. ^ "Domestic × Geoffroy's cat, jaguarundi, fishing cat hybrids". Messybeast.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  18. ^ Murphy, William (2015). "Genetic Analysis of Feline Interspecies Hybrids". Vin.com. Veterinary Information Network. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Savannah Breed". TICA.org. The International Cat Association. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  20. ^ Le Roux, Johannes; Foxcroft, Llewellyn; Herbst, Marna; MacFadyen, Sandra (23 Dec 2014). "Genetic analysis shows low levels of hybridization between African wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) and domestic cats (F. s. catus) in South Africa". Ecology and Evolution. 5 (2). National Library of Medicine: 288–299. doi:10.1002/ece3.1275. PMC 4314262. PMID 25691958.
  21. ^ Kingdon, J. (1988). "Wild Cat (Felis sylvestris)". East African Mammals: An Atlas of Evolution in Africa, Volume 3, Part A: Carnivores. University of Chicago Press. pp. 312−317. ISBN 978-0-226-43721-7.
  22. ^ Xing, Yue-Ting; Meng, Hao; He, Bing; Li, Wen-Jing; Qi, Xin-Zhang; Xhao, Jian-You; Yu, He; Zhuang, Yan; Luo, Shu-Jin; Xu, Xiao; Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki; Driscoll, Carlos; O’Brien, Stephen (23 Jun 2021). "Genomic evidence for the Chinese mountain cat as a wildcat conspecific (Felis silvestris bieti) and its introgression to domestic cats". Science Advances. 7 (26). Bibcode:2021SciA....7..221Y. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abg0221. PMC 8221621. PMID 34162544.
  23. ^ "Domestic × oncilla and black footed cat hybrids". Messybeast.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  24. ^ "Domestic × Bobcat/Lynx Hybrids". Messybeast.com. 1975-06-27. Retrieved 2016-08-17.

Other sources

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  • I Kusminych & A Pawlowa ("Ein Bastard von Karakal Hauskatze im Moskauer Zoo" in Der Zoologische Garten Vol. 68, No. 4 (1998)) (A Hybrid of Caracal and House Cat in Moscow Zoo).
  • Paul Leyhausen (Oncilla × domestic cat hybrids)
  • Mike Tomkies, "Wildcats" (and various other works regarding Scottish Wildcats)
  • Frances Pitt, "Wild Animals in Britain" (1939) (Scottish Wildcat hybrids)
  • Edward Hamilton, 1896 (Scottish Wildcat hybrids)
  • LYNX AND BOBCAT HYBRIDS
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