Does anyone know the five wild cat species native to Texas?
The bobcat, pictured here, is a freebie.
What are the other four?
As a bonus question, what other species that lived here in fairly recent history according to the fossil record?
Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Actually, the Mammals of Texas (Revised 1974) lists 6: Jaguar, Ocelot, Margay, Cougar, Jaguarundi and the Bobcat.
The bonus is a margay. No evidence in recent history but remains found, etc. Glad you dug that up. I have that book and it’s killer.
Mountain Lion, ocelot, Jaguar, Jaguarundi
(Margay almost makes it this far North)
bonus: Sabre tooth cat
You got it. Actually the bonus was a margay as their is recent fossil evidence of them living in Texas. They actually found fossilized remains on the Sabine River in Orange County where I live. Thanks for playing along.