feliform meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

feliform

adj

US /ˈfilɪfɔɹm/

Etymology From Latin feles, felis (“cat”) + -form.

Resembling a cat; applied to member of the Feliformia, a suborder within the order Carnivora consisting of cat-like carnivorans, including cats (large and small), hyenas, mongooses, civets, etc.

Near-synonym: feloid (often synonymous)

feliform

noun

Etymology From Latin feles, felis (“cat”) + -form.

Any carnivore of the suborder Feliformia, which are regarded as cat-like.

Near-synonym: feloid (often synonymous)
However, when extinct genera are included, caniforms far outnumber feliforms, with 244 extinct caniform genera to 76 extinct feliform genera, if nimravids are included with feliforms (McKenna and Bell, 1997).2010, Anjali Goswami, “1: Introduction to Carnivora”, in Anjali Goswami, Anthony Friscia, editors, Carnivoran Evolution, page 7:

2 more examples

This arrangement is also found in procyonids; however, in mustelids and feliforms, the artery and the nerve travel through the foramen [39].2011, Rebecca E. Fisher, “6: Red Panda Anatomy”, in Angela R. Glatston, editor, Red Panda: Biology and Conservation of the First Panda, page 96:
In feliforms, two bones (ectotympanic and entotympanic) unite to form the bullae with a septum separating the two resulting chambers.[…]Palm civets are considered basal to all feliforms because they are genetically distinct from other feliforms and retain primitive auditory bullae lacking a septum (Flynn and Nedbal 1998).2013, Terry A. Vaughan, James M. Ryan, Nicholas J. Czaplewski, Mammalogy, page 285: