The Late Miocene Radiation of Modern Felidae: A Genetic Assessment

This landmark study used molecular genetics to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the cat family, resolving the relationships among all living felids and the timing of their diversification. The authors identified eight major lineages of modern cats and dated their origins, showing that the family radiated rapidly from a common ancestor in the late Miocene and then spread across the globe through at least ten intercontinental migrations enabled by fluctuating sea levels. The work provided the genetic backbone against which fossil cats, including the deep-branching sabertooths and the Panthera lineage of big cats, are interpreted. It transformed understanding of felid evolution by integrating molecular divergence dates with biogeography, and remains the foundational reference for the phylogeny and dispersal history of cats.