| 词条 | Big cat | ||||||||
| 释义 |
The term "big cat" is typically used to refer to any of the five living members of the genus Panthera, namely tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard.[1] Except the snow leopard, these species are able to roar. A more liberal and expansive definition of the term includes species outside of Panthera including the cougar, clouded leopard, Sunda clouded leopard and cheetah, although these added species also do not roar.[2] Despite enormous differences in size, various cat species are quite similar in both structure and behaviour, with the exception of the cheetah, which significantly stands out from the other big and small cats. All cats are carnivores and efficient apex predators.[3] Their range includes the Americas, Africa, and Asia. RoaringThe ability to roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx and hyoid apparatus.[4] When air passes through the larynx on the way from the lungs, the cartilage walls of the larynx vibrate, producing sound. The lion's larynx is longest, giving it the most robust roar. The roar in good conditions can be heard 8 or even 10 km away.[5] All five extant members of the genus Panthera contain this elongated hyoid but owing to differences in the larynx the snow leopard cannot roar. ThreatsThe principal threats to big cats vary by geographic location, but primarily are habitat destruction and poaching. In Africa many big cats are hunted by pastoralists or government 'problem animal control' officers. Certain protected areas exist that shelter large and exceptionally visible populations of African leopards, lions and cheetahs, such as Botswana's Chobe, Kenya's Masai Mara, and Tanzania's Serengeti. Rather, it is outside these conservation areas where hunting poses the dominant threat to large carnivores.[6] In the United States, 19 states have banned ownership of big cats and other dangerous exotic animals as pets, and the Captive Wildlife Safety Act bans the interstate sale and transportation of these animals.[7] The initial Captive Wildlife Safety Act (CWSA) was signed into law on December 19, 2003.[8] To address problems associated with the increasing trade in certain big cat species, the CSWA regulations were strengthened by a law passed on September 17, 2007.[9] The big cat species addressed in these regulations are the lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, jaguar, cougar, and any hybrid of these species (liger, tigon, etc.). Private ownership is not prohibited, but the law makes it illegal to transport, sell, or purchase such animals in interstate or foreign commerce. Although these regulations seem to provide a strong legal framework for controlling the commerce involving big cats, international organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have encouraged the U.S. to further strengthen these laws. The WWF is concerned that weaknesses in the existing U.S. regulations could be unintentionally helping to fuel the black market for tiger parts.[10] Conservation{{Hatnote|For the population of the big cats, see List of carnivorans by population}}An animal sanctuary provides a refuge for animals to live out their natural lives in a protected environment. Usually these animal sanctuaries are the organizations which provide a home to big cats whose private owners are no longer able or willing to care for their big cats. However, use of the word sanctuary in an organization's name is by itself no guarantee that it is a true animal sanctuary in the sense of a refuge. To be accepted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as a bona fide animal sanctuary and to be eligible for an exemption from the prohibition of interstate movement of big cats under the Captive Wildlife Safety Act (CWSA), organizations must meet the following criteria:[11]
Species{{seealso|List of felids}}
EvolutionIt is estimated that the ancestors of most big cats split away from the Felinae about 6.37 million years ago.[13] The Felinae, on the other hand, comprises mostly small to medium-sized cats, including the domestic cats, but also some larger cats such as the cougar and cheetah.[14] A 2010 study published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution has given insight into the exact evolutionary relationships of the big cats.[15] The study reveals that the snow leopard and the tiger are sister species, while the lion, leopard, and jaguar are more closely related to each other. The tiger and snow leopard diverged from the ancestral big cats approximately 3.9 Ma. The tiger then evolved into a unique species towards the end of the Pliocene epoch, approximately 3.2 Ma. The ancestor of the lion, leopard, and jaguar split from other big cats from 4.3–3.8 Ma. Between 3.6–2.5 Ma the jaguar diverged from the ancestor of lions and leopards. Lions and leopards split from one another approximately 2 Ma.[16] The earliest big cat fossil, Panthera blytheae, dating to 4.1−5.95 MA, was discovered in southwest Tibet.[17] {{clade|label1=3.9 Ma |1={{clade |label1=3.2 Ma |1={{clade |1=Snow leopard |2=Tiger |label2=3.6 Ma |2={{clade |1=Jaguar |label2=2 Ma |2={{clade |1=Lion |2=Leopard }} }} }} }} Weight rangeThe range of weights exhibited by the species is large. At the bottom, adult snow leopards usually weigh {{Convert|22|to|55|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, with an exceptional specimen reaching {{convert|75|kg|lb|abbr=on}},[18][19] and cheetahs typically weigh {{convert|21|–|72|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.[20] Male and female lions typically weigh {{convert|150|-|249.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and {{convert|110|-|182|kg|lb|abbr=on}} respectively,[21][22] and male and female tigers {{convert|100|-|306|kg|lb|abbr=in}} and {{convert|75|-|167|kg|lb|abbr=on}} respectively.[23] Exceptionally heavy male lions and tigers have been recorded to exceed {{convert|306|kg|lb|abbr=in}} in the wilderness,[24][25] and weigh around {{convert|1,000|lbs}} in captivity.[24][26] The liger can grow to be much larger than its parent species, the lion and tiger. In particular, a liger called 'Nook' is reported to have weighed over {{convert|550|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}.[27][28] GallerySpeciesHybridsSee also
References1. ^{{cite journal |authors=Davis, B.W., Li, G. and Murphy, W.J. |year=2010 |title=Supermatrix and species tree methods resolve phylogenetic relationships within the big cats, Panthera (Carnivora: Felidae) |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=56 |issue=1 |pages=64−76 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.036|pmid=20138224 }} 2. ^{{Cite web|url=http://www.animalfactsencyclopedia.com/Big-cat-facts.html|title=Big Cat Facts|date=|website=Animal Facts Encyclopedia|publisher=Copyright by Jenise Alongi|access-date=March 17, 2016}} 3. ^Balme, G. (2005). [https://www.panthera.org/sites/default/files/Balme_2005_Counting_cats_0.pdf Counting Cats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913005827/https://www.panthera.org/sites/default/files/Balme_2005_Counting_cats_0.pdf |date=2015-09-13 }}. Africa Geographic 13: 36−43. 4. ^{{cite journal |last=Weissengruber |first=GE |author2=G Forstenpointner |author3=G Peters |author4=A Kübber-Heiss |author5=WT Fitch |title=Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (Panthera onca), tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), liger (Panthera leo × Panthera tigris), Tigon (Panthera tigris x Panthera leo) and the domestic cat. (Felis silvestris f. catus) |journal=Journal of Anatomy |pages=195–209 |volume=201 |issue=3 |date=September 2002 |doi=10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00088.x |pmc=1570911 |pmid=12363272}} 5. ^{{cite book|author=Kathy Darling|title=Lions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qaoK0ykgmwQC|date=1 January 2000|publisher=Lerner Publications|isbn=978-1-57505-404-9}} 6. ^{{cite journal |url=http://www.panthera.org/documents/HunterAfGeo2004CarnivoresInCrisisPart1.pdf |last=Hunter |first=Luke |title=Carnivores in Crisis: The Big Cats |journal=Africa Geographic |date=June 2004 |pages=28–41 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415100850/http://www.panthera.org/documents/HunterAfGeo2004CarnivoresInCrisisPart1.pdf |archivedate=April 15, 2010}} 7. ^{{cite web |last=Pacelle |first=Wayne |title=Captive Wildlife Safety Act: A Good Start in Banning Exotics as Pets |website= |publisher=The Humane Society of the United States |url=http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/wayne_pacelle_the_animal_advocate/captive_wildlife_safety_act_a_good_start_in_banning_exotics_as_pets.html |doi= |accessdate=2007-04-01 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419002256/http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/wayne_pacelle_the_animal_advocate/captive_wildlife_safety_act_a_good_start_in_banning_exotics_as_pets.html| archivedate= 19 April 2007 |deadurl= no}} 8. ^U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 9. ^Federal Register of the U.S. Congress 10. ^America’s 5,000 Backyard Tigers a Ticking Time Bomb, WWF Says, David Braun, National Geographic, News Watch, October 21, 2010. 11. ^Captive Wildlife Safety Act - What Big Cat Owners Need to Know, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. 12. ^Khorozyan, I. G., Gennady, F., Baryshnikov, G. F. and Abramov, A. V. (2006). Taxonomic status of the leopard, Panthera pardus (Carnivora, Felidae) in the Caucasus and adjacent areas {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232940/http://wild-cat.org/pardus/infos/Khorozyan2006Leopard-taxonomy.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}. Russian Journal of Theriology 5 (1): 41–52. 13. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-fossil-skull-unearthed-in-tibet-is-the-oldest-big-cat-ever-found-180947677/|title=This Fossil Skull Unearthed in Tibet Is the Oldest Big Cat Ever Found|date=2013-11-12|author=Joseph Stromberg|website=Smithsonian Institution}} 14. ^{{MSW3 Wozencraft|pages = 532–545|id=14000004}} 15. ^{{Cite journal |last=Davis |first=Brian W. |last2=Li |first2=Gang |last3=Murphy |first3=William J. |year=2010 |title=Supermatrix and species tree methods resolve phylogenetic relationships within the big cats, Panthera (Carnivora: Felidae) |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=56 |issue=1 |pages=64–76 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.036 |lastauthoramp=yes |pmid=20138224}} 16. ^{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8512000/8512455.stm | work=BBC News | title=Tiger's ancient ancestry revealed | date=2010-02-12 | accessdate=2010-04-26}} 17. ^{{cite journal |author1=Z. Jack Tseng |author2=Xiaoming Wang |author3=Graham J. Slater |author4=Gary T. Takeuchi |author5=Qiang Li |author6=Juan Liu |author7=Guangpu Xie |title=Himalayan fossils of the oldest known pantherine establish ancient origin of big cats |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B |date=7 January 2014 |volume=281 |number=1774 |page=20132686 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2013.2686 |url=http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/281/1774/20132686 |pmid=24225466 |pmc=3843846}} 18. ^{{cite book |author=Sunquist, M. |author2=Sunquist, F. |year=2002 |chapter=Snow leopard |title=Wild Cats of the World |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |pages=377–394 |isbn=978-0-226-77999-7 |chapterurl=https://books.google.com/books?id=IF8nDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA378#v=onepage&f=false}} 19. ^{{cite book |author=Boitani, L. |year=1984 |title=Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals |location= |publisher=Simon & Schuster, Touchstone Books |isbn=978-0-671-42805-1}} 20. ^{{cite book |last1=Estes |first1=R. D. |authorlink=Richard Despard Estes |title=The Behavior Guide to African Mammals: Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates |year=2004 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley, USA |isbn=978-0-520-08085-0 |pages=377–383 |edition=4th}} 21. ^{{Cite book |author1=Nowell, Kristin |author2=Jackson, Peter |title=Wild Cats: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan |url=http://carnivoractionplans1.free.fr/wildcats.pdf |year=1996 |publisher=IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group |location=Gland, Switzerland |isbn=978-2-8317-0045-8 |pages=1–334 |chapter=}} 22. ^{{Cite book |last=Nowak |first=Ronald M. |year=1999 |title=Walker's Mammals of the World |location=Baltimore |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=978-0-8018-5789-8}} 23. ^{{cite journal |author=Mazák, V. |year=1981 |url=http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-152-01-0001.pdf |title=Panthera tigris |journal=Mammalian Species |volume=152 |issue=152 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.2307/3504004 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309125526/http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-152-01-0001.pdf |archivedate=2012-03-09 |df=dmy-all |jstor=3504004 }} 24. ^1 {{cite book |last=Wood |first=G. L. |year=1983 |title=The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats |publisher=Sterling Publishing |isbn=978-0-85112-235-9}} 25. ^{{citation |work=University Press of Africa, with contributions from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry |title=East African Business Digest |url=https://books.google.com/?id=i_JPAQAAIAAJ&q=TWO+mamuding+lions+which,+since+January+this+year,+killed+244+cattle+and+three+donkeys,+were+shot+at+lssuna+village+in+Tanganyika.+The+lions+were+found+to+weigh+700+and+800+lb.&dq=TWO+mamuding+lions+which,+since+January+this+year,+killed+244+cattle+and+three+donkeys,+were+shot+at+lssuna+village+in+Tanganyika.+The+lions+were+found+to+weigh+700+and+800+lb. |year=1963 |access-date=2018-03-18}} 26. ^{{cite news |publisher=Leonard Scott Publishing Company |title=The Nineteenth Century and After |volume=130 |url=https://books.google.ae/books?id=ylEQAAAAIAAJ&q=Samson,+1,000-pound+African&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_1r725vPZAhXCthQKHbZDBRwQ6AEIJTAA |year=1941 |access-date=2018-03-17}} 27. ^{{cite web |work=Liger Facts |title=The Liger - Meet the World's Largest Cat |url=http://ligerfacts.org/ |accessdate=2016-07-17}} 28. ^{{cite web |work=Liger World |title=Liger Nook - Liger Profile |url=http://www.ligerworld.com/nook-the-liger.html |access-date=2018-04-23}} Further reading
External links
2 : Felids|Big cats |
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