Can an a witch's patron familiar (animals) combine Improved Familiar and the Mauler archetype?

Question

So, under normal circumstances, the general consensus is that a creature granted by Improved Familiar does not qualify for the Mauler archetype, because of these two lines:

Mauler

This ability replaces speak with master and speak with animals of its kind.

Improved Familiar

improved familiars do not gain the ability to speak with other creatures of their kind

The logic here being that if the familiar never gains the ability then the archetype can't replace it, thus the creature does not qualify for the archetype. Okay, fine.

So, what about a witch with a patron familiar for animal patron?

The familiar gains the ability to speak with animals of its kind at 1st level.

Does this now allow an improved familiar to qualify for the Mauler archetype?

Answer 1

The mauler/improved familiar case is already covered in the description of Animal Speaker :

Animal Speaker (Su)

The familiar gains the ability to speak with animals of its kind at 1st level.

If it would normally gain this ability at 7th level, the familiar gains the ability to speak with all animals (as though constantly under the effects of speak with animals) at 7th level.

Emphasis mine : a familiar that naturally gains speak with animals of its kind at 7th level gains an improved version of this ability at this level, the same way multiclassing in two classes with uncanny dodge gives you access to improved uncanny dodge immediately.

This instance of speak with animals of its kind given by Animal Speaker isn't part of the natural progression of familiar abilities and thus isn't affected by the mauler archetype and Improved Familiar. It's better to consider it as an extra ability added to your familiar's other abilities.