| Iriomote cat | |
|---|---|
| Taxidermy specimen | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Genus: | Prionailurus |
| Species: | P. iriomotensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis (Imaizumi, 1967) |
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| Iriomote cat range | |
The Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) is a wild cat that lives exclusively on the Japanese island of Iriomote and has been classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN since 2008, as the population size is fewer than 250, is declining, and consists of a single subpopulation.[1]
In Japanese it is called 西表山猫 Iriomote-yamaneko.
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The Iriomote cat is about the size of a domestic cat has the characteristic elongated body, short legs and low-slung build of a predator which forages in thick undergrowth. It has dark brown fur with dusky or greyish brown, dark spots in dense longitudinal rows. The spots tend to coalesce into bands. Five or seven dark stripes run along its neck, and two white lines run from the corners of each eye across the cheeks. The backs of the rounded ears are dark with white central spots. The tail is bushy, relatively short and spotted; near the base it is ringed toward the tip. The anterior upper premolar is absent. It cannot sheathe its claws.
Head and body length range from 38 to 65 cm (15 to 26 in), tail is from 16 to 45 cm (6.3 to 18 in) long. Height at shoulders averages 25 cm (9.8 in). Weight ranges from 3 to 7 kg (6.6 to 15 lb). Females average body size is 48 cm (19 in). Males are slightly larger at 53–56 cm (21–22 in).
It appears to be a very ancient species, a ‘missing link’, nearer to the common root of the cat tribe than any other extant species.[2]
The 292 km2 (113 sq mi) island of Iriomote consists predominantly of low mountains 300–460 m (980–1,510 ft) with sub-tropical evergreen forest, including extensive belts of mangrove along the waterways. Iriomote cats inhabit the entire island, however, they likely occur at higher densities in the lowland coastal area than in the mountains. They prefer a mosaic of wetland, streams, small hills - which are also where the human settlements are. In 1994 the population was estimated at around 99−110 individuals. Since monitoring began in 1982, the population is declining due to accelerated rates of lowland habitat loss over the past decade.[3]
This endemic cat is found near water, all over the island, including beaches and cultivated land. It only avoids the most heavily populated areas. Unfortunately, it shows a preference for the coastal forest areas which are mostly outside the protected area of the island and through which the island's road has been constructed.
Iriomote cats are solitary. Their periodical home ranges vary greatly in size. In 1998 and 1999 a male and a female Iriomote cat were radio tracked for 7 to 13 successive days in the western part of the island. Their home ranges overlapped extensively in all periods. The periodical home range of the male was 0.83 to 1.65 km2 (0.32 to 0.64 sq mi) in size, and of the resident female 0.76 to 1.84 km2 (0.29 to 0.71 sq mi).[4]
Hunting day and night both in trees and on the ground, the Iriomote cat is an opportunistic generalist predator. It is said to be more nocturnal in summer than winter. During the day it will hide in rock crevices or tree cavities, leaving to hunt at dusk. In captivity, it is an enthusiastic swimmer, playing in the water. Known to cross rivers in the wild, it probably also catches fish and crabs in the water. Hunting is usually a slow stalk finishing with a quick rush to kill.
The general activity patterns of Iriomote cats showed slightly prevailing activity during the dark periods of the day with particular peaks at dawn and dusk or in the early hours of the night. However, these patterns were clearly dependent on the sex and reproductive status of the cat. Their activity is characterized by bouts of continuous movements ranging from 0.17 to 9.05 h, alternating with resting bouts of 0.25–14.42 h throughout the day. The activity rhythm of males during the mating season generally followed that of breeding females at the same time of the year, but not that of non-breeding females. Breeding females are more active than nonbreeding ones during the late night and morning hours.[5]
About half of their prey biomass was identified as mammalian in origin, with about 25% consisting of birds and 20% of reptiles. In summer, their emphasis on mammalian prey seems to change, with more birds and reptiles taken. Numerically, insects are important, making up one third of the total number of items found in scats with 39 species of beetles identified in them. They are known to take fruit bats, black rats, wild pig, night herons, quail, rails, pigeons, doves, frogs, scops-owls, kingfishers, robins, thrushes and crows. They selectively prey on skinks during the warm season when skinks are abundant.[6] More than 95 species of animal have been identified from its feces.
Mating season lasts from November to April.[5] Captive animals lose weight in winter and spend more time urine marking. This is seen as preparation for mating. They are more frequently seen in pairs in winter and often heard to vocalize. Males often fight. They meow and howl like domestic cats.
After a gestation of about 60 days, two to four kittens are born in a den in a rock crevice or hollow tree. The kittens mature much more rapidly than domestic cats, being left on their own when they are about three months old.
Pressures of development pose a very serious threat. Feral domestic cats compete with the Iriomote cat for food, but at the moment there appears to be no problem with the two species interbreeding. Hybridization would dilute the gene pool of the Iriomote cat and could be a disastrous long-term threat to the integrity of the species. Proposals have been made to eradicate all feral cats on the island.
Prionailurus bengalensis is listed in CITES Appendix II.[1] The Iriomote cat is listed as Endangered on Japan's 2002 national Red List.[3] In 1977 the Iriomote cat was declared a National Japanese Treasure.[7] One third of the island has been declared a reserve where the trapping of the cat for any reason is strictly prohibited. However, the species continues to decline.
The Japanese Environmental Agency set up feeding programmes for the native cat. Since 1979, domestic chickens have been provided at 20 feeding sites. However, this has caused problems as the cats now regard farmer's flocks as a natural food resource. In 1983, the Iriomote cat began to attack domestic chickens at village houses. A significant number have also been killed on the roads. Despite these problems, many of the inhabitants of Iriomote are proud of "their" cat.
There is no captive breeding population.
The Iriomote cat was first described in 1967 as a distinct species Mayailurus iriomotensis based on morphology.[8] Later it was subordinated under the genus Prionailurus as Prionailurus iriomotensis.[9] Based on genetic analysis it is now considered a subspecies of the leopard cat.[10][11]
The Iriomote cat is known in Ryukyan as Yamamayaa (やままやー, "mountain cat"), Yamapikaryaa ("mountain sparkling-eyed cat") or Pingiimayaa ("escaped cat") to the islanders of Iriomote. Its Japanese name is Iriomote-yama neko (イリオモテヤマネコ, "Iriomote mountain cat"). It has been designated by the government of Japan as a Special Natural Monument (see List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments) under criteria 1.1: "well-known animals peculiar to Japan and their habitat".