Felis chaus affinis


Felis chaus affinis is a jungle cat subspecies.
It was described by British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1830 based on an illustration by Thomas Hardwicke.

Taxonomy

Thomas Hardwicke's collection of illustrations of Indian wildlife comprises the first drawing of Felis chaus affinis, which John Edward Gray named the "Allied cat" Felis affinis in 1830.
In the 19th century, several jungle cat specimens from South Asia were proposed as subspecies:
In the 1930s, Pocock reviewed the Natural History Museum's jungle cat skins and skulls from British India and adjacent countries. Based mainly on differences in fur length and colour he grouped six larger skins from Sind under the name Felis chaus prateri. He subordinated the specimens from Sri Lanka and southern India under Felis chaus kelaarti, but those from northern India and the Himalayas to Felis chaus affinis.
Since 2017, all three names are considered synonymous with F. c. affinis.