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WHAT
IS A LEOPARD CAT?
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Family:
Felidae
Subfamily:
Felinae
Genus:
Prionailurus
Species:
Prionailurus
bengalensis
The Leopard
Cat prionailurus bengalensis comes in many sub-species that range
from just over 3 pounds pounds to twenty pounds in size. Being a small
cat, they are very shy of humans and are predatorized by larger cats,
birds of pry, and other large predators including humans. They are known
to eat small birds, rodents, insects, fish and vegetation in the wild.
The p. bengalensis
euptilura subspecies are often more than twice as large as many southern
Asian subspecies, with a dense coat, heavy bone and muscling, and
thick tail. These traits are necessary for survival in the cold northern
regions where they live.
The p.b.
euptilura Leopard Cat has been confused with the "Amur Leopard"
panthera pardus orientalis, a completely different, large, and very
endangered species of it own. This has lead to p.b.euptilura being
mistakenly called an "Amur Leopard Cat" and has even lead to people confusing
the two species scientific names calling them "p.b. euptilura",
"p.b.orientalis" a completely made up subspecies name that does
not exist in Leopard Cats.
The confusion
started because these two completely different species of felines
both live in the Amurian river region of Russia and while doing research,
people have confused the two different species with one another. Unfortunately,
this has lead to a lot of false information being published about p.b.euptilura
sub-species and has put all their reaserch in the wild in question.
P.b. euptilura
is a recognized non endangered subspecies of "Leopard Cat" and the "Amur
Leopard" panthera pardus orientalis is a large very endangered species,
the two should never be confused with one another. Unfortunately, because
of the confusion, many people have published on websites that p.b.
euptilura is endangered, when actually p.b. euptilura
is one of the most populated subspecies with the largest known range
of the Leopard Cat species. There range starts as far south as Korea and
expands up through a large part of eastern China where they are commonly
called Asian Leopard Cats, then north throughout the Amurian River region
and may be found as far north as eastern Siberia.
The LC is not
an aggressive feline and will flee rather than fight. The Leopard Cat is
a beautiful spotted feline which is similar in size to a domestic cat.
Their coats are generally pale brown/tawny yellow, but this coloring is
extremely variable, and may be bright reddish or gray. Under parts are
usually bright white and they are marked with dark spots, bands, blotches,
and rosettes. There are usually four longitudinal black bands running from
the forehead to behind the neck. The ears of a Leopard Cat are wide and
rounded and well cupped, with a white spot known as ocelli on the black
backs of their ears. Two whitish stripes run up from the internal corners
of the eyes and there are one or two white streaks across the cheeks.
The tail is spotted
at the base and in some subspecies, ringed indistinctly toward the tip.
The pads of the feet are eggplant to dark brown, with the carpal pad (little
upper pad on the front feet) are very light pink. Their legs are relatively
long. Cubs are born with all pads light pink, and usually have bright white
bellies at birth.
Characteristically,
the Leopard Cat has a small head and narrow muzzle with puffy whisker pads
and nose. The skull is short and rounded and the orbits of the eye sockets
are open at the back. Usually the anterior upper premolar is present.
Leopard Cats are
usually classified in the genus Felis, but Wozencraft (1993) in
his recent review of cat taxonomy put them in the genus Prionailurus.
This reflects that the Leopard Cat's relationship with the other members
of the genus (the Flat-Headed Cat P. planiceps; Rusty-Spotted Cat
P.
rubiginosus; Fishing Cat P. viverrinus) is closer than it is
to the other cats.
At one time there
was thought to be over two dozen sub-species, but after much debate in
the early and mid 1990's many of these sub-species were reclassified
as belonging to another sub-species. These debates continue, but it is
now generally accepted there are no more than sixteen actual separate
Prionailurus
bengalensis subspecies. Highlighted are the currently endangered subspecies.
| SUBSPECIES |
NATIVE LAND |
| P. b. alleni |
Hainan Island,
off China |
| P. b. bengalensis |
Northeastern
India, Indo-China, Yunnan |
| P. b. borneoensis |
Borneo |
| P. b. chinensis |
Central China
and Taiwan |
| P. b. euptilura |
South & North
Korea, Eastern China, Eastern Russia, Eastern Siberia |
| P. b. horsfieldi |
Kashmir to Sikkim |
| P.b. iriomotensis |
Iriomote, Ryukyu
Islands |
| P. b. javanensis |
Java and Bali |
| P. b. manchurica |
Manchuria |
| p. b. rabori |
Philippines:
Negros, Cebu, and Panay |
| P.b.
scripta |
Northern
Yunnan, Western Sechuan, Southeast Tibet, Southern Gansu |
| P. b. sumatranus |
Sumatra |
| P. b. tingia |
Singapore, Malaysia |
| P.
b. trevelyani |
North
Kashmir, South Baluchistan, Pakistan |
| P. b. tsushimansis |
Tsushima Island
only |
| P.b. wagati |
Southeastern
India |
The Tsushima
cat p.b.tsushimansis which was only recognized by biologists in
1988 when it was given species status has only about 100 individual specimens
living in the wilds of Tsushima (a small Island between Korea and Japan).
Recent genetic testing has shown that it is indeed a variety of the Leopard
Cat (see Leopard Cat Research). It is smaller and much darker than the
typical mainland Leopard Cats and its population appears to have been separated
from the mainland Leopard Cats for a very long time. One article in the
newsletter of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, Cat News, stated that the
Tsushima Cat was a member of the Siberian subspecies, P. b. euptilura
(More on the Tsushima Cat. Cat News 12, 1990, p. 23). Previously,
Professor P. Leyhausen stated that specimens from the island of Tsushima
“clearly belonged to the subspecies P. b. manchuricus” (New Cat
Not New?
Cat News 11, 1989, p.18). This debate will continue, but
for now they are listed as a seperate new subspecies called P.bengalensis
tsushimansis.
These subspecies
and those of many other animals are the subject of much taxonomic debate,
and many are still being disputed.
The Sumatran subspecies
has fewer and smaller markings than the typical mainland forms. In contrast
to the bright and quite rufous Bornean subspecies, the Javanese and Balinese
Leopard Cats have rather dull brown coloration. The Pakistani leopard cat
is rather gray. The India Leopard cat p.bengalensis bengalensis has
a golden coat, with dark longated spots, seldom rosetted. The central Chinese
Leopard Cat chinensis is thought to be the most striking of Leopard
Cats, with light golden coat and beautiful two-tone paw print rosettes.
The Chinese refer to them as the money cat, because their rosettes resemble
Chinese coins.
The largest subspecies
euptilura
sometimes
reaching over 20 pounds, is the one which occurs the farthest north and
has a thicker coat, usually rosetted and are less distinctly marked than
the other subspecies.
There has also
been much confusion over the Philippine subspecies of Leopard Cat. The
Philippine sub-species
was also mistakenly called p.b. minuta, probably
confused with another animal species or plant found in the Philippines.
Recent reviewed in 1997 by Groves, of the Philippine subspecies pointed
out that the Philippine subspecies true name is p. b. rabori
and is the smallest of its race (adults in captivity weighs only about
1.4 to 1.9 kg or 3.1 to 4.2 pounds). Research has never been done on this
subspecies prior to 2005, when, in July, an ethnobiological survey was
started in the known range of the p. b. rabori and results show
that the Philippine subspecies has been extirpated from at least 80% of
its former range, with loss of forest cover, except possibly in Negros
Occidental, where p. b. rabori seemingly thrive in sugarcane
farms. They have a light tan coat with small spotted markings.
Principal
dimensions
| |
Overall Size |
| Head and Body
lengths |
17"-42"
44-107cm |
| Tail lengths |
6"-17"
15-44cm |
| Total Weight |
5-20
lbs.
2.25-9kg |
Distribution and
Habitats
Leopard cats
are one of the most widely distributed felids, from the dense tropical
forests of Sumatra to the Manchurian and Siberian taiga. They are not restricted
to primary forests, being found in scrublands, second-growth woodland,
semi-deserts, and even agricultural regions, especially near water. They
are tolerant of human activity, often being found close to villages, in
which they will hunt for rodents and raid poultry houses at night.
Distributed as
far north as Eastern Siberia, down through the Amur basin and Korea and
as far south as Bali, the Leopard Cat's range extends through China towards
Pakistan through northern India, the southern Himalayas, Bangladesh, Burma,
and Indo-China. They are found on the Philippines, Borneo and Java and
several islands near Japan.
The island of
Tsushima is about 270 square miles, with steep mountains and ravines. On
the map it appears as a tiny dot just off the south coast of Korea.
The
map shows the distribution of Leopard Cats in red. The map is based
on information in the Wild Cats Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
published by the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group in 1996.
Diet
Leopard Cats are,
like most felids, opportunists, and they will prey on hares, rodents, reptiles,
moles, insects, amphibians, game birds, fish, mouse deer and even the fawns
of roe deer. Northern subspecies are known to prey on hares. Grass and
eggs may supplement their diets as well. They are known to raid poultry
and to tackle aquatic prey in the water and are excellent swimmers, very
willing to dive to catch aquatic prey.
Behavior
Primarily first thought
to be nocturnal, radio transmitters has revealed that Leopard Cats hunt
both in daylight and at night on the ground and in trees. A male's
average home range has been measured at 3.5 miles. Unlike most felids,
the southern or Asian Leopard Cats usually pair for life and the males
participate in rearing their young. The northern P.b. euptilura
subspecies are sometimes solitary and males may breed several females a
year over a large range, but have also been known to pair and help in the
rearing of their young as well.
Many cats delineate
their territories using their feces and spray urine as scent markers, but
many adult Leopard Cats urinate and defecate in water to mask their traces.
This behavior has also been noted in LCF's captive Leopard Cats. In the
wild, juveniles have been known to bury their feces near the den. This
avoids drawing attention to themselves and when supplied a litterbox in
captivity, they usually do the same. In fact they are very easily trained
to use a litterbox even as adults. It is believed that the large Leopards
take significant numbers of Leopard Cats each year as well as Eagles, tigers,
wolves, lynx and other predators.
Reproduction
One to six (usually
two or three) cubs are born, usually in May, but Leopard Cats have been
known to breed at any time in warmer regions and in captivity. The young
are usually born in a hollow tree or rock cavity. Gestation takes about
56 to 72 days. At birth the cubs weigh about 75 to 130 grams. They are
born with their eyes closed and open their eyes when they are about ten
days old, and start to eat regurgitated meat by 23 days. If the kittens
are removed from the mother or lost to predators, she is sometimes able
to have another litter that same year. Unlike most felids, Leopard Cats
usually pair for life and cubs are raised by both parents and usually remain
as a family unit for 7-10 months until the next breeding cycle.
Full sexual maturity
is reached at 18 months, but males have been known to successfully breed
as early as 7 months and females at 10 months of age in captivity. Because
the males mature earlier, they are much more likely to seek mates outside
of their family units, helping to eliminate interbreeding with siblings.
Life
span
Because of the
dangers in the wild, a Leopard Cat's life span is estimated at only about
4 years. Captive Leopard Cats with proper care and nutrition have lived
for as long as 19-20 years. Unfortunately, many don't live but a
couple of years in captivity because so many are being purchased by pet
owners and Bengal cat breeders without proper nutritional and care knowledge.
Many cubs and
adults are still illegally being taken from the wild and exported to other
countries including the USA to be sold as pets or to be used in hybrid
programs. Being taken from the wild, many of these cubs are unable to adjust
to the stress of captivity, shipping, and change of diets and are lost
during or shortly after they arrive to their new homes.
It should be noted,
that only about one of ten Leopard Cats will ever breed a domestic cat
and many of those that don't breed end up being neglected, mistreated,
or even illegally released into the wild to die of starvation. This is
why it is very important that responsible Leopard Cat programs like LCF
do not market their Leopard Cats they raise into non-Leopard Cat breeding
programs.
All Leopard Cat
subspecies have been put on the CITES protection list with P. b. bengalensis
and p.b. iriomotensis already being placed on the endangered species
list. Every year countless valuable, unique Leopard Cat genes are lost.
It is LCF's belief that no one should own Leopard Cats unless they are
legally produced in captivity or acquired by special permits and are to
be used in a Leopard Cat breeding programs.
Bengal breeders
should not purchase Leopard Cats to be used in domestic Bengal cat (Leopard
Cat x domestic cat hybrids) programs unless their main goal is to use them
in Leopard Cat breeding programs to avoid exploiting the species and losing
their valuable genes. LCF has raised Leopard Cat young from all it's Leopard
Cats used to produce Bengal cats.
Mutations
Though very rare,
color mutations do occur in Leopard Cats. Melanistic (solid black) mutations
of Leopard Cats have been reported in both the wild and in captivity. There
has been a female melanistic (black) Leopard Cat living in a Tailand zoo
for a number of years.
Pink-eyed albino
(white) Leopard Cats have also occured, mature male photographed in 2002,
by Musa Kiana, Chelmsford, UK.

Unknown
Subspecies:
Leopard Cats of
undocumented subspecies. It is believed that many of the Leopard Cats in
captivity without subspecies documentation is a result of importers and
breeders discarding their documents in an effort to hide their status of
endangered subspecies. Basically making them of unknown origins just to
allow easy import/export and sales of these valuable endangered cats. This
practice is causing their endangered gene pools to be lost forever, adding
to the endangerment of the subspecies.
US Fish and Wildlife
has cracked down in recent years by only allowing the importation of Leopard
Cats of known documented subspecies to enter the US. Many undocumented
Leopard Cats are being confiscated by USFW at Ports of Entry and it's only
the beginning.
It is my understanding
USFW will also start to crack down on all undocumented Leopard Cats in
captivity. The Endangered Species Act does not allow the sale or transportation
of endangered species or subspecies across state lines without an ESA special
permit. Because of this requirement, Leopard Cats of unknown or of known
endangered subspecies that are sold through interstate transactions can
also be confiscated. Basically, if you cannot prove a Leopard Cat is not
of an endangered subspecies, USFW can consider them endangered and can
confiscate them.
Be warned that
dealing with Leopard Cats of undocumented subspecies may lead to their
confiscation even within US boarders. Also, dealing with undocumented subspecies
will encourage the future exploitation of the endangered Leopard Cat subspecies.
Flash!
Man Pleads Guilty
to Cat Smuggling
The head of small
cat organization could receive up to five years in prison for smuggling
endangered subspecies of Leopard cats.
The American head
of a Europe-based small cat organization has pleaded
guilty to federal
charges of illegally selling and transporting two
endangered Asian
leopard cats to Miami.
At the time of
his arrest, David G. Sparandara was director of the Czech
Republic-based
organization European-American Consortium for Small Felines. Authorities
said Sparandara shipped one Asian leopard cat through Miami International
Airport in January 2005.
Another Asian
leopard cat that he tried to ship through the Miami airport in December
2005 was intercepted and submitted to federal authorities. Investigators
learned that proper Endangered Species Act permits were not in order for
the transactions.
Paperwork showed
that the first Asian leopard cat was being sold to an
importer for
more than $4,000.
The U.S. Attorney's
Office said Sparandara could receive as many as five
years in prison,
a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and an
order of restitution
at his July 20 sentencing.
If you have done
any business with David Sparandara, I suggest you get into contact with
the USFW authorities before his sentencing and before they get in touch
with you. Also, you might want to find out if you can get in on a class
action suite against him to get your money back.
I also know that
some of David's Leopard Cats were sucessfully imported into the US through
US animal brokers. My guess is that David has already made a plea bargain
before pleading guilty, so I am sure he has turned over all his records
and contacts. I also have word that some of the brokers he has dealt are
in trouble and will have their cats confiscated and are facing charges
as well, so it won't be long before they start plea bargaining as well.
So far USFW has been allowing those who come forth to keep their cats,
but they are confiscating all those they track down who have not come forward
on their own.
References:
Bamboo Cattery
website
Leopard Cat Foundation,
Mike Bloodgood
Animal Diversity
Web: Prionailurus bengalensis
Big Cats Online:
Leopard Cat
Cat Survival
Trust: Leopard Cat
ISEC Canada:
Leopard Cat
IUCN Cat Specialist
Group: Leopard Cat
Wild Cats of
the World. Blandford: United Kingdom
Fieldmuseum,
philippine,bengalensis
USFW
Philippines Biodiversity
Conservation Programme
Negros Forests
& Ecological Foundation, Inc.
NOTICE!
LCF's Leopard Cats are permanently
identified with registered AVID® microchips
and are DNA profiled.
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