Asiatic Golden Cat
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| Catopuma temminckii Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 |
The Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii, or Profelis temminckii, or Felis temminckii), also called Temminck's Golden Cat, is a medium-sized wild cat (length 90 cm, plus 50 cm tail) weighing from 12 to 16 kilograms. In captivity golden cats can live up to 20 years, but their average lifespan in the wild is likely far shorter. While the fur is mostly foxy red or golden brown, black or grey colour variants may also be found. Normally, the coat is plain, save for some spots on the underside, and sometimes very faint spotting on the rest of the coat. However, in China there is a colour variant with leopard-like spots, which resembles a Leopard Cat. This spotted fur is a recessive characteristic, i.e. when a spotted and a plain cat interbreed, the young get plain fur.
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[edit] Distribution & Habitat
Asiatic Golden Cats live throughout Southeast Asia, ranging from Tibet and Nepal to Southern China and Sumatra. It prefers forest habitats interspersed with rocky areas, and is found in deciduous, subtropical evergreen, and tropical rainforests. Golden cats are occasionally found in more open terrain. They range from the lowlands to altitudes of up to 3000 meters in the Himalayas.
[edit] Behavior
Not much is known about this rather elusive predator, and most of what is known about it has been found out in captivity. Previous observations suggested that it golden cats are primarily nocturnal, but a recent study [1] on two golden cats showed arrythmic activity patterns. They are thought to be primarily solitary. As far as vocalizations go, they can hiss, spit, meow, purr, growl, and gurgle. Other methods of communication observed in captive Golden Cats include scent marking, urine spraying, raking trees and logs with claws, and rubbing their heads against various objects.
[edit] Hunting Habits
The Golden Cat prefers to hunt on the ground, but does climb when it needs to. When hunting, they use a stalk and rush method typical of felines. It is known to hunt birds, lizards, rodents, other small mammals, and the occasional small or young deer, and seems to be fairly adaptable in its diet. The Golden Cat has been reported to hunt in pairs when pursuing larger animals. In captivity, they pluck the feathers of larger birds before eating them. There have been reports of the Golden Cat scavenging, a behavior not commonly seen in felines. Rarely, they hunt near human settlements or prey on livestock.
[edit] Reproduction
Everything known about Golden Cat reproduction has been figured out from observations of them in captivity. They become sexually mature at anyhere from eighteen to twenty-four months of age. Their gestation period lasts about 80 days; litters usually consist of only one kitten. Kittens are born in the hollows of trees, rock crevices, and possibly in hollows and other sheltered places on the ground. The pelts of kittens are thicker and slightly darker, but with the pattern they will keep for their entire life. Based on what has been seen in captivity, it is thought that males take an active role in rearing the young.
[edit] Mythology
In some regions of Thailand the Golden Cat is called Seua fai ("fire tiger"). According to a regional legend the burning of a Golden Cat's fur drive tigers away. Eating the flesh is believed to have the same effect. The Karen tribe believes that simply carrying a single hair of the cat will be sufficient. Many indigenous people believe this cat to be fierce, but in captivity it has been known to be very docile and tranquil.
[edit] Subspecies & Conservation
The exact population of the Golden Cat is unknown, but they are listed on "CITES: Appendix I" and as "Lower Risk/Near Threatened" by IUCN. It is hunted for its fur and, increasingly, for its bones in Traditional Chinese medicine. However, the greatest risk posed towards the species is habitat destruction. There are few of these felines in zoos, and they do not breed well in captivity.
There are three known subspecies:
- Catopuma temminckii temminckii, Himalaya, Southeast Asian mainland, Sumatra
- Catopuma temminckii dominicanorum, southeast China
- Catopuma temminckii tristis, southwest China
[edit] References
- Cat Specialist Group (2002). Catopuma temminckii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable
