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Rusty-Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus)

Rusty-Spotted Cat | Prionailurus rubiginosus photo
Rusty-Spotted Cat
Photograph by Lenie Beutler. Some rights reserved.


Description

The Rusty-spotted cat is a small wild cat from India and Sri Lanka. It is grey brown with small rust colored spots running in lines down the body. The chin, throat, underside and inside of the legs are white with blotchy rust colored spots. There are two dark streaks running down the head. The tail has a dark tip.

Size

Head and body length: 35cm - 45cm. Tail length: 15cm - 25cm.

Habitat

There are two separate populations of Rusty-Spotted Cats--one in India and one in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, they are found in dense tropical forests. In India, they are found most often in dry grassland, scrubland, and open forest.

Food

Feeds on small birds, mammals, reptiles, frogs and insects. Sometimes preys on domestic poultry.

Breeding

The female Rusty-Spotted Cat gives to one or two kittens in a den, after a gestation period of about 67 days. The young are usually born in late April.

Range

India, Sri Lanka

Conservation Status

The conservation status in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals is "vulnerable".



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

Fishing Cat | Prionailurus viverrinus photo
Rusty-Spotted Cat
Photograph by Petra Karstedt. Some rights reserved.