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Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)

Leopard Cat | Prionailurus bengalensis photo
Leopard Cat
Photograph by Kuribo. Some rights reserved.


Description

Leopard Cats are pale tawny brown above with white underside. The body and tail are covered with dark spots, and the head has black stripes from the top of the face over the top of the head. The stripes break into elongated spots down the back. The tail has indistinct rings toward its tip. The chin and throat are white and there is white below the eyes. There are two black stripes on the cheek with white between the stripes. Leopard cats from the tropics are yellowish brown, and cats from the northern part of the range are grey brown.

Size

Length: 60cm - 90cm. Tail length: 28cm - 37cm. Shoulder Height: 20cm - 45cm. Males are larger than females.

Habitat

found in a variety of habitats near a reliable source of water. They are found in forest, woodland, areas of secondary growth, agricultural plantations.

Food

Leopard Cats eat mostly rodents. Also eats small deer, hares, pigs, lizards, reptiles, birds, insects, fish and carrion.

Breeding

Female Leopard cats give birth to a litter of one to four kittens (usually two or three) after a gestation period of 65-70 days. The young are born with their eyes closed and the eyes open at 10 days. The young are weaned after 28 days and are independent by 18 months.

Range

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia (Far East), Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Classification
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Felidae
Genus:Prionailurus
Species:bengalensis
Relatives in same Genus
  Iriomote Cat (P. iriomotensis)
  Rusty-Spotted Cat (P. rubiginosus)
  Fishing Cat (P. viverrinus)

Fishing Cat | Prionailurus viverrinus photo
Leopard cat, Singapore Zoo
Photograph by Chensiyuan. Some rights reserved.
Fishing Cat | Prionailurus viverrinus photo
Leopard Cat
Photograph by Cédric Gravelle. Some rights reserved.