Feloid

/ˈfiːlɔɪd/ adjective

Definition

Resembling or relating to cats or the cat family (Felidae), used in scientific classification to describe feline-like features.

Etymology

From Latin 'felis' (cat) plus Greek '-oid' (resembling, form of). Used in zoology and paleontology to describe evolutionary traits similar to modern cats.

Kelly Says

When scientists discovered saber-toothed tigers millions of years old, they called them 'feloid'—recognizing that the cat body plan is so perfect that evolution invented it twice in different species.

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