Geographic Range
Asian golden cats,
Catopuma temminckii
, can be found in the Oriental region and parts of the Palearctic region of southwestern
Asia, ranging from China and India through the Malay peninsula, Thailand, and Vietnam
(Wilting et.al 2010). Although vegetation and high variation of habitat should allow
this species to thrive, their range has been limited by expansion rates of humans
and poachers (Brockhlehurst). Asian golden cats are now also found in wildlife sanctuaries,
Phu khieo (Grassman et al. 2005) and the Jerangau Forest Reserve (Azlan and Sharma
2005).
- Biogeographic Regions
- palearctic
- oriental
Habitat
Asian golden cats are primarily found in forests ranging from tropical/subtropical
evergreen forests, mixed and dry deciduous forests and tropical rain forests (Brocklehurst;
Wilting et.al 2010). They are found at elevations of 1,100 to 3,738 m (average 2,517
m). The Pho Khieo Wild Life Sanctuary in Thailand is considered ideal habitat for
Asian golden cats, consisting of closed forest, grassland, and an abandoned orchard.
Radio-collared individuals in the sanctuary were recorded at elevations 3,738 m, the
highest elevation recorded for this species (Grassman et. Al 2005). Although habitats
are variable within the sanctuary, Asian golden cats did not show a preference for
any particular kind of habitat.
- Habitat Regions
- tropical
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- savanna or grassland
- forest
- rainforest
- Aquatic Biomes
- lakes and ponds
- rivers and streams
- temporary pools
Physical Description
Asian golden cats are moderate sized
felids
with a head and body length of 116 to 161 cm. Their tail is one half to a third of
their size ("Asian Golden Cat" 2001). They generally weigh 12 to 15 kg. Individuals
of a variety of coat colors have been reported, including gold brown, brown, black,
fox red, and gray. Gray individuals are often referred to as "fire cats." Asian golden
cats have white lines with black borders that run vertically from the top of the head
to the medial side of the eye and downwards across the neck. Their coat hairs are
moderate in length. The underbelly, inner legs, and the underside of the tail are
white. They have a muscular build and long legs, which, in addition to their long
tails, make them excellent tree climbers, although Asian golden cats tend to dwell
on the ground. An adult male and adult female in the Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary
were measured. The male weighed 13.5 kg, and measured 91 cm in length from head to
body. The male's tail was 41 cm in length, its right hind food 18 cm, its ear 5.5
cm, and upper right canine 16mm in length. The female weighed 7.9 kg, and measured
77 cm in length from head to body. The female's tail was 39.5 cm in length, its right
hind food 15.5 cm, and upper right canine 13mm in length (Grassman et al. 2005). Females
Asian golden cats are smaller than males.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- homoiothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- male larger
Reproduction
The mating systems of Asian golden cats are relatively unknown, as they are difficult
to observe in the wild. Wild individuals tend to be afraid of humans, and the mating
process has not been observed. The Cincinnati zoo, Heidelberg zoo, Munster zoo, and
Wassenaar zoo have attempted to breed Asian golden cats and collectively have a 78%
success rate. Zoos use a careful program to ensure reproductive success. Males are
introduced to females over a 2-month period, allowing the female to become familiarized
with the male and lowering the chance of fatalities. Many zoos experience fatalities
between males and females during introduction. Males are kept in a separate area and
are allowed visual, olfactory, and auditory contact. To ensure less aggression, higher
amounts of food are added to each cage. After two months, the male and female are
allowed short periods of contact together. If no aggression is observed, the time
of contact is gradually increased. The male and female stay together for 70 days,
during which they copulate. If the female has not given birth after 90 days, the male
is reintroduced at a time when the female is in estrus again.
Estrus in female Asian golden cats lasts 6 days, and the cycle repeats every 39 days.
Gestation lasts 81 days. Females give birth to 1 to 3 cubs, which weigh an average
of 250 g at birth. In the wild, some females were observed giving birth in hollow
trees. Cubs are weaned at 6 months and reach independence in on average 12 months,
though they may reach independence in as little as 9 months. Females reach sexual
maturity in 19 to 174 months and males in 24 to 156 months. Asian golden cats are
difficult to observe in the wild. Zoos attempt to breed this species, which reveals
further information regarding their mating behavior and systems. There does not appear
to be a breeding season for this species, but they do not give birth during April,
May, or June.
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- year-round breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- viviparous
Little information is available on parental investment of Asian golden cats. In zoos,
cubs are removed from their mother around 9 to 12 months, although weaning generally
occurs at 6 months. This may suggest post-weaning care by mothers. In zoos, the father
has no association with their young, which may also be indicative of care in the wild.
- Parental Investment
- female parental care
-
pre-fertilization
- provisioning
-
protecting
- female
-
pre-hatching/birth
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
-
pre-weaning/fledging
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
Lifespan/Longevity
Asian golden cats have been reported to live 18 to 23 years and are expected to survive
20 years in captivity.
Behavior
Asian golden cats were once thought to be nocturnal, however, a radio-tracking study
in the Phu Khieo Wild Life Sanctuary revealed they are diurnal and crepuscular. Activity
in this study peaked in the mid morning (8 to 10 am) and early evening (4 to 6 pm).
Radio-collared cats were most inactive during early morning (1 to 2 am). They were
most active during July and least active during March. Like most cats, they are likely
to be solitary except during mating.
- Key Behaviors
- terricolous
- diurnal
- crepuscular
- motile
- sedentary
- solitary
Home Range
The Phu Khieo Wild Life Sanctuary in Thailand conducted a study to determine the spatial
range of the Asian golden cats. In this study, females had a range of 32.6 km^2 and
males of 47.7 km^2. Their ranges overlapped by 78%. Each individual traveled a daly
mean of 1,597 +/- 1,674 m.
Communication and Perception
Little information is available regarding the communication and perception of Asian golden cats. Like most cats, they probably use scent cues extensively in communication.
Food Habits
Asian golden cats have opportunistic eating habits. They often consume small prey
such as
Indochinese ground squirrel
,
muntjacs
, and small snakes (Grassman et al. 2005; Wilting et al 2010). They also eat rodents,
birds, reptiles, and young hares ("Asian Golden Cat" 2001). In the goral mountains
of Sikkim, India, Asian golden cats are reported to hunt larger animals such as wild
pig,
sambar deer
, and
water buffalo
calves. In areas of human presence, they also prey on domesticated poultry,
sheep
, and
goats
.
In captivity, Asian golden cats are fed a diet of less variety. They were given animals
with less than 10% body fat, because animals with more fat cause them to vomit. Their
food is also enhanced with alcium carbonate and multivitamin supplements. The “dead
whole food items” that the animals were presented with are chicken, rabbits, guinea
pig, rats, and mice. In zoos, Asian golden cats receive 800 to 1500 kg of food per
day (Brocklehurst 2007).
- Primary Diet
-
carnivore
- eats terrestrial vertebrates
- Animal Foods
- birds
- mammals
- amphibians
- reptiles
Predation
There are no known predators of Asian golden cats other than humans.
Ecosystem Roles
Asian golden cats are important predators in forests, preying on a variety of animals.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The meat of Asian golden cats is considered a delicacy, and their bones are used for
medicinal purposes. Their pelt is also traded, though illegal. In local superstition,
it is believed that carrying a piece of their hair or burning the pelt of Asian golden
cats drives tigers away.
- Positive Impacts
- food
- body parts are source of valuable material
- source of medicine or drug
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Asian golden cats have been known to prey on domesticated livestock, such as poultry,
sheep
, and
goats
.
- Negative Impacts
- crop pest
Conservation Status
Asian golden cats are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List, endangered on
the US Federal list, and on Appendix I by CITES. Populations are decreasing, in part
due to habitat destruction from logging and agriculture. In addition to habitat loss,
they also face poachers, although it is illegal to kill Asian golden cats. Their coats
are sold on the black market, and their meat is considered a delicacy. The myth that
carrying their hair or burning their pelt wards away tigers also contributes to their
decline. Some Asian golden cats now inhabit wildlife sanctuaries, and some zoos are
breeding these cats in captivity.
Additional Links
Contributors
Alex Bok (author), University of Oregon, Stephen Frost (editor), University of Oregon, Gail McCormick (editor), Animal Diversity Web Staff.
- Palearctic
-
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- tropical savanna and grassland
-
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
- savanna
-
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
- temperate grassland
-
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- rainforest
-
rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- year-round breeding
-
breeding takes place throughout the year
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- viviparous
-
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
- female parental care
-
parental care is carried out by females
- diurnal
-
- active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.
- crepuscular
-
active at dawn and dusk
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- sedentary
-
remains in the same area
- solitary
-
lives alone
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- food
-
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
- drug
-
a substance used for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
- carnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats meat
References
Azlan, M., D. Sharma. 2005. Ecology of Three sympatric Felids in a mixed Evergreen Forest In North-Central Thailand. Journal of Mammalogy , 86/1: "29-38".
Brocklehurst, M. 2007. Husbandry and Breeding of the Asiatic golden cat. International Zoo Yearbook , 35/1: "74-78". Accessed November 06, 2010 at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-1090.1997.tb01192.x/pdf .
Grassman, L. 2005. The Diversity and Activity Patterns of Wild Felids in a Secondary Forest in Peninsular Malaysia. cambridge Journals , 40: 36-41.
IUCN/SSC specialist Group, , K. Nowell, P. Jackson. 1996. Wild cats: status survey and Conservation action Plan . Gland, Switzerland: IUNC.
Wilting, A., A. Hearn, J. Ross. 2010. "Pardofelis temminckii" (On-line). Accessed October 12, 2010 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/4038/0 .
Johns Hopkins University Press. 1999. Walker's mammals of the World . Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
1999. "Asian Golden Cat-Catopuma Temminckii- "fire cat"" (On-line). Accessed October 12, 2010 at http://www.tigerhomes.org/wild-cats/wc-asian-golden-cat.cfm .
2001. "Asian Golden Cat" (On-line). International Society for Endangered Cats Canada. Accessed November 06, 2010 at http://www.wildcatconservation.org/Asian_Golden_Cat_(Catopuma_temminckii).html .
IUCN - The World Conservation Union. 1996. "Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temmincki" (On-line). Accessed October 12, 2010 at http://lynx.uio.no/lynx/catsgportal/cat-website/catfolk/temmin01.htm .
2002. "The Asiatic Golden Cat felis (catopuma) temmincki" (On-line). The Cat Survival Trust. Accessed November 07, 2010 at http://www.catsurvivaltrust.org/asiagold.htm#REP .