For the last few weeks I’ve been using cat skulls as mystery objects, because they are really hard to tell apart and I was hoping that some useful distinguishing features might get spotted when you try to identify them.
I certainly feel like I’ve learned something, but I’m pleased to say that there aren’t too many more skulls to go, because it’s really difficult. This next one should hopefully be a bit easier than some of the recent cats:
Any idea what fine felid this skull comes from?
As usual I would really appreciate your thoughts in the comments section below – let’s see if we can crack this!
Zygoma 
Considerably bigger than the others! There seems to be very little detail to the nasal opening. Pathology?
No pathology that I could see, may just be that the bigger skull changed the lighting angle, making the detail harder to see.
Is it North American, and closely related to last week’s?
Nope and nope!
Thought not 😉
I was wondering if it might be the national animal of Pakistan (sometimes known as an “ounce”), but it seems a little small for that.
Just came across this: http://www.fws.gov/lab/idnotes/idg7_catskulls.pdf, but it seems like this skull is too small to be classed as mid-size, unless it’s not a fully grown adult?
That’s a handy guide! This species probably should be included, as it does nudge into the mid-size range, but it’s not in there…
OK, so it’s a large small cat rather than a small large cat. Hmmm….
It’s about the right size for a Serval, so is it a Serval?
That *seems* too easy 😉
Is it a Clouded Leopard?
No – they have *really* long canines and are bigger.
Hmmm….incomplete orbits, nifty sagittal crest that only come up a bit from the occiput. Felis chaus. Jones I imagine will disagree because it’s Friday. Thanks Paolo!
They are quite similar, but the nasal/premaxillary region of this species appears longer.
From the size, sagittal crest, the curve of the upper skull, the auditory bulla size and knowing it is not North American I think it might be in the Pardofelis genus?
This is a bit longer and narrower than the pardofelids…
http://i0.poll.fm/js/rating/rating.jsPardofelis temminkii or asian golden cat.
Asian marbled cat skull….I have it too.