Sardinian lynx
The Sardinian lynx with the scientific name Lynx sardiniae was proposed by the Italian biologist Pasquale Mola in 1908 for two zoological specimens of a cat from Nuoro in Sardinia that were part of the zoological collection of the University of Sassari.[1][2] These specimens were reassessed in 1911 by Alessandro Ghigi who identified them as Sardinian wildcats (Felis lybica).[3] Gighi's assessment was corroborated in 1981 by an Italian biologist who examined the still available mounted specimen initially described by Mola.[4]
| Sardinian lynx | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Felinae |
| Genus: | Lynx |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | L. l. sardiniae |
| Trinomial name | |
| Lynx lynx sardiniae (Mola, 1908) | |
Mola described the body length of these specimens as 50 cm (20 in) with a 25 cm (9.8 in) long tail and a shoulder height of 35 cm (14 in). Their long and dense fur was fulvous on the back and whitish on the belly. He considered them to be a crossing of a lynx and a domestic cat.[1][2]
References
- Mola, P. (1908). "Considerazioni sopra un problematico incrocio di Felidi". Bollettino della Società zoologica italiana. 2. 9: 42–45.
- Mola, P. (1908). "Ancora della Lince della Sardegna". Bollettino della Società zoologica italiana. 2. 9: 46–48.
- Ghigi, A. (1911). Ricerche faunistiche e sistematiche sui Mammiferi d’Italia che formano oggetto di caccia. Natura. Vol. II. Pavia: Tipografia Successori Fratelli Fusi. pp. 7–48.
- Ragni, B. (1981). "Gatto selvatico. Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777". In Pavan, M. (ed.). Distribuzione e biologia di 22 specie di Mammiferi in Italia. Rome: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. pp. 105–113.