Caracal auratus

(Temminck, 1825)

African Golden Cat

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Carnivora
Suborder : Feliformia
Infraorder : Feloidea
Family : Felidae
Subfamily : Felinae
Genus : Caracal

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Temminck, C.J. 1825-04-09. Livraison 4. Pp. 73–156 in Temminck, C.J. 1827. Monographies de Mammalogie. G. Dufour et E. d'Ocagne, Paris, 268 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52681266

Original name as described

Felis aurata

Type material

RMNH.MAM.19633

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.biodiversitydata.nl/naturalis/specimen/RMNH.MAM.19633

Type locality

West Africa. Probably from the coastal region of Lower Guinea.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic

Country distribution

Angola · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Republic of the Congo · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Cote d'Ivoire · Equatorial Guinea · Gabon · Ghana · Guinea · Liberia · Nigeria · Sierra Leone · Uganda · Benin? · Burundi? · Gambia? · Guinea-Bissau? · Kenya? · Rwanda? · Senegal? · Sudan? · Togo?

Taxonomy notes

moved from Profelis to Caracal; year of publication of the original description is actually 1825, although it is usually referenced as 1827

Taxonomy notes citation

Johnson W. E., Eizirik E., Pecon-Slattery J., Murphy W. J., Antunes A., Teeling E. & O'Brien S. J. 2006. The late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: A genetic assessment. Science 311, 73-77. · Werdelin, L., Yamaguchi, N., Johnson, W. E., & O'Brien, S. J. (2010). Phylogeny and evolution of cats (Felidae). Biology and conservation of wild felids. Oxford, 59-82. · Kitchener A. C., Breitenmoser-Würsten Ch., Eizirik E., Gentry A., Werdelin L., Wilting A., Yamaguchi N., Abramov A. V., Christiansen P., Driscoll C., Duckworth J. W., Johnson W., Luo S.-J., Meijaard E., O'Donoghue P., Sanderson J., Seymour K., Bruford M., Groves C., Hoffmann M., Nowell K., Timmons Z. & Tobe S. 2017. A revised taxonomy of the Felidae. The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group. Cat News Special Issue 11, 80 pp. · Kitchener, A. C., Simo, F. T., Mugerwa, B., & Sanderson, J. G. (2022). Evidence that Temminck described Felis aurata in 1825, not 1827. Archives of Natural History, 49(1), 78-85.

IUCN Red List status

Not Evaluated

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005980

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Known distribution is shown in green and predicted distribution is in yellow. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Felis chalybeata

(Griffith, C. H. Smith, & Pidgeon, 1825)

Family

Felidae

Root name

chalybeatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Type

RMNH.MAM.19632

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.biodiversitydata.nl/naturalis/specimen/RMNH.MAM.19632

Authority page

plate facing p. 473

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33298847

Authority publication

London

Felis aurata

(Temminck, 1825)

Family

Felidae

Root name

auratus

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

RMNH.MAM.19633

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.biodiversitydata.nl/naturalis/specimen/RMNH.MAM.19633

Authority page

120

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52681266

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Murray (1866:323, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15580319) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39798)
  2. Jerdon (1867:107, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37299818) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68353)
  3. Allen & Coolidge (1930:584, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/61248238) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68614)
  4. Corbet & Hill (1980:104) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  5. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:278) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  6. Corbet & Hill (1991:113) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63070)

Felis celidogaster

(Temminck, 1825)

Family

Felidae

Root name

celidogaster

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

RMNH.MAM.19632

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.biodiversitydata.nl/naturalis/specimen/RMNH.MAM.19632

Authority page

140

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52681286

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:191, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207659) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Fischer (1829:204) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59856)
  3. Lesson (1842:55) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  4. Tschudi (1844:249, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7089024) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34348)
  5. Tschudi (1845:128, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40007912) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37358)
  6. Schmarda (1853:559) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68334)
  7. Severtsov (1858:386, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2316658) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68920)
  8. Blyth (1863:61, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534689) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  9. Gray (1867:272, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29533712) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37913)
  10. Gray (1869:24, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8396920) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37331)
  11. Lydekker (1908:437, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741657) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  12. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis chrysothrix

(Temminck, 1827)

Family

Felidae

Root name

chrysothrix

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

RMNH.MAM.19633

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.biodiversitydata.nl/naturalis/specimen/RMNH.MAM.19633

Authority page

251

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:185, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207653) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Fischer (1829:209) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59856)
  3. Lesson (1842:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  4. Trouessart (1885:105) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/58783)
  5. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis neglecta

(J. E. Gray, 1838)

Family

Felidae

Root name

neglectus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1838.4.16.325

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/2bf8edd7-1083-4f5f-97a9-b02c15b23456

Authority page

27

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3380828

Authority publication

Annals of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Giebel (1855:886 (footnote), https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45549077) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38563)
  2. Severtsov (1858:389, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2316805) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68920)
  3. Murray (1866:324, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15580320) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39798)
  4. Gray (1867:272, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29533712) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37913)
  5. Gray (1869:24, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8396920) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37331)
  6. Rochebrune (1883:125, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26187578) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/43667)
  7. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis rutilus

(G. R. Waterhouse, 1843)

Family

Felidae

Root name

rutilus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1847.3.12.1

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/136a4124-c24e-4a34-8425-4a20def15bfe

Authority page

130

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30679892

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis rutila

(Giebel, 1855)

Family

Felidae

Root name

rutilus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

886 (footnote)

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45549077

Authority publication

Leipzig

Name usages

  1. Giebel (1855:886 (footnote), https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/45549077) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38563)
  2. Murray (1866:324, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15580320) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39798)
  3. Gray (1867:272, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29533712) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37913)
  4. Gray (1869:23, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8396919) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37331)
  5. Rochebrune (1883:125, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26187578) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/43667)

Leopardus auratus

(J. E. Gray, 1867)

Family

Felidae

Root name

auratus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

265

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29533705

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

  1. Gray (1867:265, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29533705) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37913)
  2. Gray (1869:12, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8396908) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37331)

Felis chrysothrix cottoni

(Lydekker, 1907)

Family

Felidae

Root name

cottoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1906.12.22.2

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/823a3e60-376f-4f7e-8908-0fe13fdf54e4

Authority page

992

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31208775

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Felis celidogaster cottoni

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Felidae

Root name

cottoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

438

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741658

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:438, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741658) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Profelis aurata

(Pocock, 1917)

Family

Felidae

Root name

auratus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

340

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15611358

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Pocock (1917:340, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15611358) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69453)
  2. Eisentraut (1963:159) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68788)
  3. Wozencraft (1993:296) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69009)
  4. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  5. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:142) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  6. Kingdon & Hoffman (2013:168) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27643)

Felis maka

(Van Saceghem, 1942)

Family

Felidae

Root name

maka

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

RMCA 17192, RMCA 17193

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

13

Authority publication

Bulletin de la Société Botanique et Zoologique Congolaise

Profelis aurata aurata

(Eisentraut, 1963)

Family

Felidae

Root name

auratus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

159

Authority publication

Hamburg

Name usages

  1. Eisentraut (1963:159) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68788)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:142) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Profelis aurata cottoni

(Wozencraft, 2005)

Family

Felidae

Root name

cottoni

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Profelis aurata celidogaster

(D. E. Wilson & Mittermeier, 2009)

Family

Felidae

Root name

celidogaster

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

142

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:142) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Caracal aurata

Butynski, Douglas-Dufresne, & De Jong, 2012

Family

Felidae

Root name

auratus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

3

Authority publication

Journal of East African Natural History

Name usages

  1. Butynski, Douglas-Dufresne & De Jong (2012:3) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/11291)
  2. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #18306) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  3. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #18306) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  4. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18306/50663128) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Caracal auratus

Mammal Diversity Database, 2024

Family

Felidae

Root name

auratus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination · unpublished_electronic

Authority page URI

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005980

Name usages

Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005980) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)

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