What is Felis?
{{Taxobox | image = Wildkatze MGH.jpg | image_caption = [[Wildcat]], ''Felis silvestris'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Carnivora]] | familia = [[Felidae]] | subfamilia = [[Felinae]] | genus = '''''Felis''''' | genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758 | subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] | subdivision = *''[[Jungle Cat|Felis chaus]]'' *''[[Martelli's Cat|Felis lunensis]]'' [[Extinction|†]] *''[[Sand Cat|Felis margarita]]'' *''[[Black-footed Cat|Felis nigripes]]'' *''[[Wildcat|Felis silvestris]]'' | range_map = Felis range.png | range_map_caption = ''Felis'' range }} '''''Felis''''' is a [[genus]] of small cats in the family [[Felidae]]. They include the familiar [[domestic cat]] and its closest wild relatives. The wild species are found in [[Europe]], southern and central [[Asia]], and [[Africa]]. The domestic cat, which may have its origin in North Africa, is now worldwide. Members of the genus ''Felis'' are all small felines, rather similar to the domestic cat. The smallest species is the [[sand cat]], which may be less than {{convert|40|cm|in}} in length, while the largest is the [[jungle cat]], which can reach {{convert|94|cm|in}}. They live in many habitats: [[forest]]s, [[grassland]], [[swamp]]land and [[desert]]s. They mostly feed on small [[rodent]]s, supplementing their diet with [[bird]]s and other small animals, depending on their local environment. Genetic studies indicate that the genus ''Felis'' first evolved around eight to ten million years ago, probably in the Mediterranean region.<ref name=Pecon-Slattery>{{cite journal | author = Pecon-Slattery, J. and O'Brien, S.J. | year = 1998 | title = Patterns of Y and X chromosome DNA sequence divergence during the Felidae radiation | journal = Genetics | volume = 148 | issue = 3 | url=http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/full/148/3/1245 | pages = 1245–1255 | doi = 10.1093/genetics/148.3.1245 | pmid = 9539439 | pmc = 1460026}}</ref> ==Species== The genus ''Felis'' is currently con