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The 'Leopard Cat' (''Prionailurus bengalensis'') is a small wild cat of Southeast Asia. On average it is as large as a domestic cat, but there are considerable regional differences: in Indonesia the average size is 45 cm (18 in), plus 20 cm (8 in) tail, while it is 60 cm/40 cm (24/16 in) in the Amur region. The shoulder height is 41 cm (16 in) and the weight is 4.5-6.8 kg (10-15 lbs). The fur is also quite variable: it is yellow in the southern populations, but silver-grey in the northern ones. The chest and the lower part of the head are white. The Leopard Cat bears black markings that may be - dependent on the subspecies - spots or rosettes. It is usually a solitary animal except for the mating season. It has litters of 2 to 4 kittens and the gestation period can vary from 65 to 70 days.
The habitat of this cat is forests and rainforest both in low and mountainous areas, usually not arid areas. It lives close to watercourses and may be found in heights up to 3000 m. The Leopard Cat can climb trees skilfully. It is also able to swim, but will seldom do so.
The Leopard Cat is a nocturnal animal hunting for hares, birds, rodents and other small mammals, and even bats. When entering villages, it may be a threat to the domestic poultry.

Contents

Subspecies

Conservation

References

External links

Subspecies

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis alleni''

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis bengalensis'', India, Bangladesh, Southeast Asian mainland, Yunnan

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis borneoensis'', Borneo

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis chinensis'', China, Taiwan, Philippines

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis euptailurus'', eastern Siberia, Mongolia, Manchuria

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis heaneyi''

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis horsfieldi'', Himalaya

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis javanensis'', Java

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis rabori''

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis sumatranus'', Sumatra

★ ''Prionailurus bengalensis trevelyani'', eastern Pakistan
The Iriomote Cat (''P. iriomotensis'') was once considered a subspecies of the Leopard Cat and lives exclusively on the tiny island of Iriomote. The 'Tsushima Cat' was not discovered until 1988. First it was regarded as a separate species as well, then as a subspecies of the Leopard Cat, and now as a variety of the Manchurian subspecies (''F. b. euptailurus'').
The Leopard Cat is sometimes captured and interbred with domestic cats to create a domesticated Bengal Cat with an appearance and behavior similar to the Leopard Cat while remaining safe for domestication.^[1]

Conservation

In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170.

References

1. http://www.tibcs.com/

External links

★ leopard cat