Feloidea

Feloidea is a superfamily of cat-like carnivoran mammals. This group encompasses a diverse array of species, including the familiar domestic cat, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and pumas. It also includes less commonly known members such as civets, genets, mongooses, and fossas. Despite their varied appearances and habitats, all feloids share certain anatomical and behavioral characteristics that link them.

Key traits often associated with feloids include sharp, usually retractable claws, specialized teeth for shearing flesh, and keen senses of sight and hearing. They are typically predators, relying on stealth, speed, or ambush tactics to hunt prey. The digestive system of feloids is adapted for a meat-heavy diet, and they are generally considered obligate carnivores, meaning meat is essential for their survival.

The superfamily is divided into two families: Felidae, which comprises the true cats, and Viverridae, which includes civets and genets, and the family Herpestidae, which comprises mongooses. Historically, some classifications also placed the fossa within the Viverridae, though modern genetics often places it in its own family, Eupleridae, which is closely related to both Felidae and Viverridae. Fossil evidence suggests that the earliest feloids emerged during the Late Paleocene or Early Eocene epochs. Their evolutionary history reveals a radiation of forms that adapted to a wide range of ecological niches across the globe.