The wildcat became extinct in Crimea.The specimen reported here, a sub-complete skeleton, was collected in 2013 on the archaeological site of Neyzats (Neusatz) and Dumbbells dated to ca.1600 years BP.It differs from domestic cats with its large body and skull size, nasal and orbit anatomy, and therefore is identified as a wildcat.
In the skull size and proportions, as well as in the nasal shape, it generally fits the Caucasian population of European wildcats Felis silvestris silvestris.The shape of presphenoid also fits well the Asian wildcat Felis silvestris ornata or the African wildcat Felis silvestris lybica; however, the posterior extension of nasals is the distinct trait of European or Caucasian cats.There are two main ideas to explain this unusual morphology.On the one hand, the Crimean cat can be a hybrid of the Caucasian and the domestic cat (which originates from F.
s.lybica) showing the heterosis.On the other hand, it can be a member of an ancestral population with the archaic mixed features of both subspecies.Thus, the genetic relationships of wildcats in this ORTHO.MINERALS region, as well as their taxonomy, are worth to be examined and revised with regard to their history and geographical position within the species range.