{"slug":"","question":"Per recent molecular phylogenetics, which of the eight felid lineages is the OLDEST?","topic":"PHYLOGENETICS","answer_a":"The cheetah lineage (Acinonyx)","answer_b":"The Panthera lineage","answer_c":"The bay cat lineage","answer_d":"The ocelot lineage","correct_index":1,"fact":"The Panthera lineage diverged roughly 10.8 million years ago in Asia, making it the OLDEST of the eight recognized felid lineages. Cheetahs, by contrast, are in the Puma lineage — more closely related to cougars than to lions."}