| Poiana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Central African oyan (Poiana richardsonii) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Viverridae |
| Subfamily: | Genettinae |
| Genus: | Poiana Gray, 1865[1][2] |
| Type species | |
| Genetta richardsonii[3] | |
| Species | |
The genusPoiana consists of two species native to West and Central Africa, theWest African oyan (P. leightoni) and theCentral African oyan (P. richardsonii).
The genusPoiana was proposed byJohn Edward Gray in 1864 and published the following year.[1][4] In accordance with Article 8 of theInternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the correctauthor citation is "Gray, 1865".[2][5]
Bothlinsang generaPoiana andPrionodon were formerly placed in the subfamilyViverrinae of the Viverridae, along with several other genera, but recent research suggests that their actual relationships may be somewhat different; a 2020 checklist places them instead in the subfamilyGenettinae.[2] The linsangs are remarkable for their morphological resemblance to the familyFelidae, which is greater than in the other viverrids. As the relationship between linsangs and felids was thought to be rather distant, this was considered an example ofconvergent evolution. However, DNA analysis indicates that while the African linsangs (Poiana) are true viverrids closely related to thegenets, the Asiatic linsangs (Prionodon) are not and may instead be the closest living relatives of the Felidae.[6]
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