African Wildcat
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| Felis silvestris lybica Forster, 1770 |
The African Wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), also known as the Desert Cat, is a subspecies of the Wildcat (F. silvestris). It was first domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians at least 4,000 years ago, and is generally believed to be the ancestor of the domestic cat.[2]
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[edit] Physical characteristics
The African Wildcat is sandy brown to yellow gray in color, with black stripes on the tail. The fur is shorter than that of the European subspecies. It is also considerably smaller: the head-body length is 45 to 75 cm, the tail 20 to 38 cm, and the weight ranges from 3 to 6.5 kg.
[edit] Distribution and habitat
The African Wildcat is found in Africa in the Middle East, in a wide range of habitats: steppes, savannas and bushland.
[edit] Behaviour
The African Wildcat eats primarily mice, rats and other small mammals. If the situation permits, it also eats birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. The cat approaches its prey slowly, and attacks as soon as it reaches a distance of about 1 meter. The African Wildcat is mainly active during the night and twilight. When confronted, the African Wildcat raises its hair to make itself seem like a larger cat and intimidate opponents. At daytime it usually hides in the bushes, although it is sometimes active on dark, cloudy days. The territory of a male overlaps with that of a few females, who defend the territory against intruders. A female gives birth to two to six kittens, with three being average. The African Wildcat often rests and gives birth in cave-like rock piles. The gestation lasts between 56 to 69 days. The kittens are born blind and need the full care of the mother. Most kittens are born in the wet season, when there is sufficient food. They stay with their mother for five to six months, and are fertile after one year.
[edit] Subspecies
Many biologists make a distinction between various geographical breeds. Some even consider them separate subspecies.
[edit] External link
[edit] References
- ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 536-537. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Kingdon, Jonathan (1988). East African Mammals: Carnivores. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-43721-3.
