Wild cats (Mammalia, Carnivora) of Anatolia. With some observations on the former and present occurrence of leopards in southeastern Turkey and on the Greek island of Samos
2000; eScholarship Publishing, University of California; Volume: 21; Linguagem: Inglês
10.21426/b6110144
ISSN1594-7629
Autores Tópico(s)Animal Diversity and Health Studies
ResumoBiogeographia - vol. XXI - 2000 (Pubb_/Icato 1/ 30 giugno 2000) Biogeografia deI|'AnatoIia Wild cats (Mammalia, Carnivora) of Anatolia. With some observations on the former and present occurrence of leopards in south—eastern Turkey and on the Greek island of Samos MARCO MASSETI Istituto iii Amimpologizz cz’e[[’Uni1/esitiz di Firenze Via (lei Procomolo, J 2 — I — 5 01 22 Firenze (Italy) Key words: mammals of Anatolia, wild Felids, Pzznr/Jem pzzra'u.t ti/[Ii/zmz (Valenciennes, 1856), island of Samos. SUMMARY Several species of wild Felids are still dispersed within the geographical borders of Anatolia. These include Fe/is .ti[zI:?5I7'i:, Schreber, 1777, Fe/it L‘/J/1/15 Guederistaedt, 1776, Czzmazl mmml(Schteber, 1776), Lynx. lynx (L., 1758),Pzzz1t/m'z1}2a2'dur L., 1758, and possibly Pzzm‘/Jerzz tigvir (L., 1758). Up to the 19th century, also Pzmr/mvz /60 (L., 1758), and ALynom'x jzilmt/xx Schreber, 1775, were reported from these territories. The present paper deals with the recent historical diffusion of these species in Turkey. It is based on a review of previous knowledge oFAnatolian Felids and their history, as well as on the examination of the available materials From museums and private collections. The evidence for the persistence of the Asia Minor leopard, P. /1. tit/izzmz (Valenciennes, 1856), recently reported from western Turkey and its former occasional occurrence on the island of Samos (Greece) are also discussed. INTROD UCTION Among the territories of the Palaearctic Region, Anatolia has been traditionally considered as the westernmost Asiatic range of several species of Eurasian felids, such as lions, tigers and leopards. This biogeographical feature is even mentioned by reports of classical authors, such as Herodotus (5th century B.C.), who described an attack by lions on the camels of King Xerxes’ caravan, in the course of the Persian wars (Histories, VII, 125). Also Xenophon (5th century B.C.), in his Kinegeiicon (X1, 1-2), observed that lions, panthers and lynxes were fairly common in Asia Minor, beyond the border between the territories of Bithynia. and Misia. The representation of large felids is still a constant within the local framework of traditional arts and crafts (Fig. 1). In fact, the occurrence of cheetahs, lions and tigers is occasionally documented from few areas of the country until very recent historical times, whereas the dispersion of others wild cats, such as Felix sill/estris, Schreber, 1777, Felis c/mus Guedenstaedt, 1776, Czzmazi (.'£l7’ZlCll[
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