Caracal caracal

(von Schreber, 1776)

Caracal

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

Schreber, J.C.D. von. 1776. pl. 110. P. pl. 110 in Schreber, J.C.D. von. 1774-1855. Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur, mit Beschreibungen. Walther, Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31064652

Original name as described

Felis caracal

Other common names

Red Lynx · Caracal Lynx

Type material

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Type locality

Table Mountain, near Cape Town, South Africa.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic · Palearctic

Country distribution

Morocco · Algeria · Tunisia · Mauritania · Gambia · Senegal · Mali · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Cote d'Ivoire · Burkina Faso · Ghana · Togo · Benin · Nigeria · Niger · Cameroon · Chad · Central African Republic · Sudan · South Sudan · Egypt · Libya · Eritrea · Djibouti · Ethiopia · Somalia · Kenya · Uganda · Tanzania · Burundi? · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Angola · Zambia · Zimbabwe · Malawi · Mozambique · Botswana · Namibia · South Africa · Lesotho · Eswatini · Israel · Palestine · Lebanon · Syria · Jordan · Saudi Arabia · Kuwait · Yemen · Oman · United Arab Emirates · Turkey · Iraq · Iran · Kazakhstan · Uzbekistan · Turkmenistan · Tajikistan · Afghanistan · Pakistan · India

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005981

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.

Caracal caracal coloniae

O. Thomas, 1926

Family

Felidae

Root name

coloniae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1902.12.1.6

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/4b6b54f9-7574-4238-aa02-1d532dae3082

Authority page

181

Authority publication

Annals and Magazine of Natural History

Name usages

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

Caracal caracal poecilotis

O. Thomas & Hinton, 1921

Family

Felidae

Root name

poecilotis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1921.2.11.19

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/1419c23b-9770-4157-816c-3795c3051c83

Authority page

3

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3152289

Authority publication

Novitates Zoologicae

Name usages

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

Lynx caracal limpopoensis

(A. Roberts, 1926)

Family

Felidae

Root name

limpopoensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 3180

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

248

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Lynx caracal roothi

(A. Roberts, 1926)

Family

Felidae

Root name

roothi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 3181

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

247

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

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

Lynx caracal damarensis

(A. Roberts, 1926)

Family

Felidae

Root name

damarensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 3841

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

248

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Felis caracal

(von Schreber, 1776)

Family

Felidae

Root name

caracal

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

pl. 110

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31064652

Authority publication

Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur

Name usages

  1. Erxleben (1777:524, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873321) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  2. Cuvier (1797:119, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637201) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
  3. Daudin (1802:161, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033411) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)
  4. Thunberg (1811:304, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11767798) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64194)
  5. Fischer (1814:xii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130073) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  6. Lesson (1827:184, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207652) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  7. Cuvier (1842:2, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518525) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60227)
  8. Lesson (1842:55) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  9. Loche (1858:8, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949444) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60564)
  10. Blyth (1863:64, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534692) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  11. Stoliczka (1872:227, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37137943) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67309)
  12. Lydekker (1908:444, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741664) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  13. Ward (1910:507, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016150) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  14. Corbet & Hill (1980:104) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)

Felis caracal var. algira

(M. Wagner, 1841)

Family

Felidae

Root name

algirus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

76

Authority publication

book

Caracal melanotis

J. E. Gray, 1843

Family

Felidae

Root name

melanotis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

46

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53729649

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

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

Felis Caracal Nubicus

(J. B. Fischer, 1829)

Family

Felidae

Root name

nubicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

210

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Felis (Caracal) caracal schmitzi

(Matschie, 1912)

Family

Felidae

Root name

schmitzi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMB 14347

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

64

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43604045

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Felis (Caracal) caracal michaelis

(Heptner, 1945)

Family

Felidae

Root name

michaelis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMMU S-40194

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://zmmu.msu.ru/dbs/list_record.php?id=S-40194

Authority page

232

Authority publication

Доклады Академии наук СССР

Name usages

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

Felis (Caracal) nubica

(Matschie, 1895)

Family

Felidae

Root name

nubica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

67

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835460

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

Matschie (1895:67, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835460) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67260)

Felis caracal berberorum

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Felidae

Root name

berberorum

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

445

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741665

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:445, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741665) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Felis caracal nubica

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Felidae

Root name

nubica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

445

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741665

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:445, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741665) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Caracal caracal

A. Roberts, 1913

Family

Felidae

Root name

caracal

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

103

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439561

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

  1. Roberts (1913:103, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439561) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:527) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  4. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:142) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  5. Butynski, Douglas-Dufresne & De Jong (2012:4) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/11291)
  6. Kingdon & Hoffman (2013:174) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27643)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #3847) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #3847) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  9. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1005981) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  10. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/3847/102424310) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Caracal caracal nubica

A. Roberts, 1913

Family

Felidae

Root name

nubica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

103

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439561

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Name usages

  1. Roberts (1913:103, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439561) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  3. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:142) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Lynx caracal

(R. Zimara, 1935)

Family

Felidae

Root name

caracal

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

  1. Zimara (1935:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67232)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:282) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)

Caracal caracal algira

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

algira

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

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

Caracal caracal caracal

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

caracal

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

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

Caracal caracal damarensis

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

damarensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

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

Caracal caracal limpopoensis

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

limpopoensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

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

Caracal caracal lucani

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

lucani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

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

Caracal caracal schmitzi

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

schmitzi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

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

Caracal caracal michaelis

D. E. Wilson & Mittermeier, 2009

Family

Felidae

Root name

michaelis

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)

Felis caracal

(P. L. S. Müller, 1776)

Family

Felidae

Root name

caracal

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

30

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51217669

Authority publication

Nuremberg

Felis Lynx bengalensis

(Kerr, 1792)

Family

Felidae

Root name

bengalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

156

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38664180

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Felis Caracal Bengalensis

(J. B. Fischer, 1829)

Family

Felidae

Root name

bengalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

210

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Name usages

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

Lynx lucani

(de Rochebrune, 1885)

Family

Felidae

Root name

lucani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

87

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31945681

Authority publication

Bulletin de la Société philomathique de Paris

Caracal berberorum

Matschie, 1892

Family

Felidae

Root name

berberorum

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

114

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8790580

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

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

Felis (Caracal) caracal aharonii

(Matschie, 1912)

Family

Felidae

Root name

aharonii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

66

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

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

Felis (Caracal) nubicus corylinus

(Matschie, 1912)

Family

Felidae

Root name

corylinus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

63

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

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

Caracal berberorum medjerdae

Matschie, 1912

Family

Felidae

Root name

medjerdae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

62

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

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

Felis (Caracal) berberorum spatzi

(Matschie, 1912)

Family

Felidae

Root name

spatzi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

61

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/43604042

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

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

Felis caracal limpopoensis

(Ellerman, Morrison-Scott, & Hayman, 1953)

Family

Felidae

Root name

limpopoensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

149

Authority publication

London

melanotix

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

melanotix

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

533

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005:533) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

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