Geographic Range
Prionailurus bengalensis
is one of the most widespread carnivore species in Asia, and can be found throughout
most of southern Asia.
Prionailurus bengalensis
occupies eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, northern and coastal India, Myanmar,
Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo,
Nepal, Korea, Cambodia, parts of the Philippines, and Eastern China.
Prionailurus bengalensis
has been divided into a number of subspecies over its range that differ in coloration,
pelage, body length, and reproductive cycles.
Habitat
Prionailurus bengalensis
is found in tropical and temperate forests, coniferous forests, shrub land habitat,
and grasslands. Its distribution is limited to areas with less than 10 cm of snow
annually, and it is not found in steppe or arid climates.
Prionailurus bengalensis
has a fairly diverse diet and is able to find food in most habitats. It seems relatively
impervious to human disturbance as populations in secondary growth and disturbed areas
are stable and it is often found near agricultural fields and rural settlements.
Prionailurus bengalensis
is an exceptional swimmer, possibly explaining its distribution on islands, and is
intolerant of temperatures above 35 C, possibly explaining its absence from central
India. It is capable of living at higher elevations (i.e., 3000 m) with minimal snow
fall.
- Habitat Regions
- temperate
- tropical
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- savanna or grassland
- forest
- rainforest
- scrub forest
- Other Habitat Features
- suburban
- agricultural
Physical Description
Leopard cats are the size of large housecats. On average, they weigh between 3 and
7 kg. In general, they have pale, tawny
pelage
with a white belly. Their body and tail are covered with rosettes and their tail
is often ringed at the tip. Four longitudinal bands run from their foreheads to their
necks. Their head to body length ranges from 44.5 to 107 cm, and their tail ranges
from 23 to 44 cm. Leopard cats have a small head with a short muzzle and round ears.
There are differences in coat length and color based on local environmental conditions.
At more northern latitudes their fur is longer and paler, and they typically weigh
more. Their coloration varies with habitat. For example, individuals in snowy habitats
have lighter pelage than those in heavily forested habitats, which tend to have dark-tawny
pelage. Sexual segregation has not ben documented in this species.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- homoiothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- sexes alike
Reproduction
Little is known of the mating system of leopard cats. Male territories often overlap
with those of multiple females, with whom the male tries to mate with. The mating
system of the leopard cat has not been extensively studied, which may have to do with
their low relative abundance and their solitary, nocturnal tendencies.
- Mating System
- polygynous
Prionailurus bengalensis
mates year round in southeastern Asia. In more northern latitude, it breeds in January
through March and gives birth in May. Gestation lasts 65 to 72 days and can produce
anywhere from 1 to 4 cubs per litter with an average of 2.5. If a litter is lost (e.g.,
predation), females can become pregnant again within 4 to 5 months. Cubs weigh between
75 and 120 g at birth and can open their eyes within 10 days after parturition. Cubs
become sexually mature around 18 months old.
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- seasonal breeding
- year-round breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- viviparous
Prionailurus bengalensis
females are the primary caregivers, however, the mean duration of parental care is
unknown. Cubs are born semi-altricial, furred and helpless with their eyes closed.
They are raised in a hollow tree, rock crevice or burrow until they are ready to leave.
Prionailurus bengalensis
reaches sexual maturity at 18 months. Males may help care for young but the extent
of paternal care is unknown.
- Parental Investment
- altricial
- male parental care
- female parental care
-
pre-hatching/birth
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
-
pre-weaning/fledging
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
-
pre-independence
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- female
-
provisioning
Lifespan/Longevity
In the wild, leopard cats have an average lifespan of about 4 years, and have been
known to live up to 20 years in captivity. The lifespan of captive individuals varies
greatly as individuals may die from the stress of transport. When leopard cats are
released into non-native environments by breeders, they usually die not long after.
Behavior
Leopard cats are small ambush predators that prefer forested habitat close to water.
Although classified as nocturnal, they are occasionally sighted during the day. Their
primary prey consists of small terrestrial vertebrates, but they are excellent swimmers
and attack aquatic prey when they encounter it. Leopard cats are solitary and roam
throughout their home ranges while hunting. They are difficult to observe as they
are elusive and small. They are exceptional climbers, which allows them to occasionally
prey upon birds and bats. However, they usually are found on the ground. They are
not known to interact with people, often fleeing when encountered. However, leopard
cats are frequently found on the outskirts of rural and agricultural areas.
- Key Behaviors
- terricolous
- nocturnal
- crepuscular
- motile
- sedentary
- solitary
Home Range
The home range of leopard cats varies greatly and is not well known. It can range
from 2 km^2 to greater than 10 km^2 but typically falls between 2.5 and 5.4 km^2.
Their ranges are often limited by the amount of available habitat and the degree of
competition for resources. Their home range usually incorporates both a source of
flowing water and forested areas.
Communication and Perception
Leopard cats use scat and urine to mark territories or communicate with conspecifics.
Like most
felids
, they are ambush hunters and are generally very quiet. They rely on sight, sound,
and small to hunt but are known to purr and cry, similar to
domestic cats
.
- Other Communication Modes
- pheromones
- scent marks
Food Habits
Prionailurus bengalensis
is primarily carnivorous and preys on small terrestrial vertebrates such as
rodents
and
lizards
. They are also known to eat
bats
,
snakes
and
insects
on occasion.
Prionailurus bengalensis
usually eats
mice and rats
, with species varying by location. Large individuals are capable of catching larger
prey, such as
hares
and young
deer
, and possibly fish and
birds
. Its broad distribution results in a highly variable diet throughout its geographic
range. In the Philippines,
P. bengalensis
primarily preys upon
house mice
,
Pacific rats
,
rice-field rats
, and
Tanezumi rats
.
- Primary Diet
-
carnivore
- eats terrestrial vertebrates
- piscivore
- insectivore
- Animal Foods
- birds
- mammals
- amphibians
- reptiles
- fish
- carrion
- insects
Predation
Leopard cat are nocturnal and semi-arboreal, which likely helps reduce risk of predation.
As ambush predators, they are extremely stealthy and they probably use their small
size and cryptic coloration to avoid potential predators.Major predators include
large cats
and
birds of prey
, and they are hunted by humans for their meat and fur.
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- cryptic
Ecosystem Roles
Leopard cats are predators. They prey upon a number of small vertebrate species, such
as
rodents
, possibly helping control pest populations. On islands, they are often the only primarily
carnivorous species present. They are prey for larger carnivores and may be carriers
of Feline Immunodeficiency virus, which can be transmitted to
domestic cats
. Parasites specific to this species have not been documented.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Leopard cats are excellent hunters and prey upon small vertebrate pests in rural and
agricultural areas. By controlling local
rodent
populations, they likely help humans in a variety of different ways, including disease
control and regulating the abundance of agricultural pests. Their fur and meat are
popular in China and Japan, and the sale of leopard cat skins is likely impacting
local populations. They are popular in the pet trade industry, as they are often bred
with
domestic cats
to create bengal cats. Restrictions on their capture and trade are being increased.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Leopard cats are carriers of potentially fatal domestic cat diseases, such as Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and reas with high proportions of infected domestic
cats also have high proportions of infected leopard cats. Leopard cats are also considered
poultry pests throughout their geographic range.
- Negative Impacts
- causes or carries domestic animal disease
Conservation Status
Leopard cats are widespread and abundant throughout their geographic range and are
classified as a species of "least concern" on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.
However, several distinct island subspecies are experiencing significant population
declines. Potential threats include commercial trade of their meat, skins, and live
animals for the pet industry. Leopard cats are considered poultry pests and retaliatory
killings are not uncommon.
Additional Links
Contributors
Cailey Miller (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, John Berini (editor), Animal Diversity Web Staff.
- 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.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- temperate
-
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
- 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.
- scrub forest
-
scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.
- suburban
-
living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.
- agricultural
-
living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.
- 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.
- polygynous
-
having more than one female as a mate at one time
- 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).
- seasonal breeding
-
breeding is confined to a particular season
- 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.
- altricial
-
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.
- male parental care
-
parental care is carried out by males
- female parental care
-
parental care is carried out by females
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- 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
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- pheromones
-
chemicals released into air or water that are detected by and responded to by other animals of the same species
- scent marks
-
communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- carrion
-
flesh of dead animals.
- cryptic
-
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
- pet trade
-
the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets.
- food
-
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
- causes or carries domestic animal disease
-
either directly causes, or indirectly transmits, a disease to a domestic animal
- carnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats meat
- piscivore
-
an animal that mainly eats fish
- insectivore
-
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
References
Chan, B. 2010. Carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora) in South China: a status review with notes on the commercial trade. Mammal Review , 40/4: 247-292.
Cranbrook, E. 1991. Mammals of South-east Asia . New York: Oxford University Press.
Fernandez, D., A. De Guia. 2011. Feeding Habits of Visayan Leopard Cats (P.b.rabori) in sugar cane fields of Negros Occidental, Philippines. Asia Life Sciences , 20/1: 143-154.
Francis, C. 2008. A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-east Asia . London: New Holland Publishers.
Hayama, S., H. Yamamoto, S. Nakanishi, T. Hiyama, A. Murayama. 2010. Risk Analysis of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Tsushima Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) and Domestic cats using a Geographic Information System. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science , 72: 1113-1118.
Li, S., D. Wang, Z. Lu, W. McShea. 2010. Cats living with pandas: the status of wild felids within the giant panda range, China. CATnews , 52: 20-23.
Mukherjee, S., A. Krishnan, K. Tamma, C. Home, N. R, S. Joseph, A. Das, U. Ramakrishnan. 2010. Ecology Driving Genetic Variation: A Comparative Phylogeography of Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in India. PLoS One , 5/10: 1-16.
Nowak, R. 2005. Leopard Cat. Pp. 249 in Walker's Carnivores of the World , Vol. 1, 1 Edition. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press.
Sanderson, J., S. Sunarto, A. Wilting, C. Driscoll, R. Lorica, J. Ross, A. Hearn, S. Mujkherjee, J. Kahn, B. Habib, L. Grassman. 2010. "Prionailurus bengalensis" (On-line). IUCN. Accessed May 20, 2011 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/18146/0 .
Sanderson, J., S. Sunarto, A. Wilting, C. Driscoll, R. Lorica, J. Ross, A. Hearn, S. Mujkherjee, J. Khan, B. Habib, L. Grassman. 2008. "IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (On-line). Prionailurus bengalensis. Accessed March 09, 2011 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/18146/0 .
Watanabe, S. 2009. Factors Affecting the Distribution of the Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) on East Asian Islands. Mammal Study , 34/4: 201-207.
2009. "Leopard Cat foundation" (On-line). Accessed March 12, 2011 at http://www.leopardcat.8k.com/LC.html .
2001. "Leopard Cat" (On-line). International Society for Endangered Cats. Accessed March 12, 2011 at http://www.wildcatconservation.org/Leopard_Cat_(Prionailurus_bengalensis).html .
2004. Leopard Cat. Pp. 391 in Prionailurus bengalensis , Vol. 14, 2nd Edition. Canada: Gale.
2011. "Professor Paul's Guide to Mammals" (On-line). Accessed March 13, 2011 at http://professorpaulsnatureencyclopedia.blogspot.com/2011/01/felidae-cats.html .