African Golden Cat
Encyclopedia
The African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata) is a medium-sized wild cat
distributed over the rainforest
s of West
and Central Africa
. It is about 80 centimetres (31.5 in) long, and has a tail of about 30 centimetres (11.8 in) in length. It is a close relative of both the Caracal
and the Serval
, but current classification places it as the only member of the genus Profelis.
color, typically ranging from cinnamon or reddish-brown to grey, although melanistic
forms also exist. They can be either spotted, with the spotting ranging from faded tan to heavy black in color, or not spotted at all. Their undersides, areas around the eyes, cheeks, chin and throat are generally lighter in color and may be almost white. Their tail is darker on the top and may be heavily banded, lightly banded, or plain, although it always ends in a black tip. Those cats in the western parts of its range tend to have heavier spotting than those in the eastern areas. Two color morphs, a red and a grey phase, were once thought to indicate separate species, rather than variations of the same species.
African Golden Cats are about twice the size of a domestic cat. Their rounded head is very small in relation to their body size. They are a heavily built cat, with stocky, long legs, a relatively short tail, and large paws. Body length usually varies within the range 62 to 101 cm (24.4 to 39.8 in). Tail length ranges from 16 to 35 cm (6.3 to 13.8 ), and shoulder height is about 38 to 55 cm (15 to 21.7 in). The cat weighs around 8 to 16 kg (17.6 to 35.3 lb), with males being larger than females.
Overall, the African Golden Cat resembles the Caracal
, but has shorter un-tufted ears and a longer tail. Despite the wide variation in coat color, pelts of African Golden Cats can be identified by the presence of a distinctive whorled ridge of fur in front of the shoulders, where the hairs change direction.
, bamboo
forests, and also in high moorland
habitats. The cat is found from Senegal
in the west to Kenya
in the east, and ranges as far north as the Central African Republic
and as far south as northern Angola
.
or nocturnal, although they have also been observed hunting during the day, depending on the availability of local prey.
The African Golden Cat is able to climb, but hunts primarily on the ground. It mainly feeds on rodent
s, but also includes bird
s, small monkey
s, duiker
s, giant forest hogs and small antelope in its diet. These cats have also been known to take domestic poultry and livestock.
These cats live up to twelve years in captivity, but their lifespan in the wild is unknown.
Each of the subspecies has two distinct spotting patterns. P. a. aurata can either have spots just on its lower body, or no spots at all except a few indistinct spots on the belly. P. a. celidogaster can either be spotted all over, or have a few spots on the back and neck with a few large spots on the sides of the body.
The African Golden Cat is similar to the Asian Golden Cat, However, genetic analysis has determined that they are not closely related . Its closest relatives are the Caracal Caracal caracal and Serval Leptailurus serval. The Asian Golden Cat Pardofelis temminckii belongs to the genus Pardofelis
Felidae
Felidae is the biological family of the cats; a member of this family is called a felid. Felids are the strictest carnivores of the thirteen terrestrial families in the order Carnivora, although the three families of marine mammals comprising the superfamily pinnipedia are as carnivorous as the...
distributed over the rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s of West
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
and Central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
. It is about 80 centimetres (31.5 in) long, and has a tail of about 30 centimetres (11.8 in) in length. It is a close relative of both the Caracal
Caracal
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
and the Serval
Serval
The serval , Leptailurus serval or Caracal serval, known in Afrikaans as Tierboskat, "tiger-forest-cat", is a medium-sized African wild cat. DNA studies have shown that the serval is closely related to the African golden cat and the caracal...
, but current classification places it as the only member of the genus Profelis.
Description
The African Golden Cat has variable furFur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
color, typically ranging from cinnamon or reddish-brown to grey, although melanistic
Melanism
Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
forms also exist. They can be either spotted, with the spotting ranging from faded tan to heavy black in color, or not spotted at all. Their undersides, areas around the eyes, cheeks, chin and throat are generally lighter in color and may be almost white. Their tail is darker on the top and may be heavily banded, lightly banded, or plain, although it always ends in a black tip. Those cats in the western parts of its range tend to have heavier spotting than those in the eastern areas. Two color morphs, a red and a grey phase, were once thought to indicate separate species, rather than variations of the same species.
African Golden Cats are about twice the size of a domestic cat. Their rounded head is very small in relation to their body size. They are a heavily built cat, with stocky, long legs, a relatively short tail, and large paws. Body length usually varies within the range 62 to 101 cm (24.4 to 39.8 in). Tail length ranges from 16 to 35 cm (6.3 to 13.8 ), and shoulder height is about 38 to 55 cm (15 to 21.7 in). The cat weighs around 8 to 16 kg (17.6 to 35.3 lb), with males being larger than females.
Overall, the African Golden Cat resembles the Caracal
Caracal
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
, but has shorter un-tufted ears and a longer tail. Despite the wide variation in coat color, pelts of African Golden Cats can be identified by the presence of a distinctive whorled ridge of fur in front of the shoulders, where the hairs change direction.
Distribution and habitat
The African Golden Cat inhabits tropical forests from sea level to 3000 metres (9,842.5 ft). It prefers dense, moist forest with heavy undergrowth, and is often found close to rivers, but it may also be found in cloud forestCloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
, bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
forests, and also in high moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
habitats. The cat is found from Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
in the west to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in the east, and ranges as far north as the Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
and as far south as northern Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
.
Behavior and diet
Due to its extremely reclusive habits, little is known about the behavior of the African Golden Cat. They are solitary animals, and are normally crepuscularCrepuscular
Crepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight, that is during dawn and dusk. The word is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning "twilight." Crepuscular is, thus, in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal behavior. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright...
or nocturnal, although they have also been observed hunting during the day, depending on the availability of local prey.
The African Golden Cat is able to climb, but hunts primarily on the ground. It mainly feeds on rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s, but also includes bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s, small monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s, duiker
Duiker
A duiker is any of about 21 small to medium-sized antelope species from the subfamily Cephalophinae native to Sub-Saharan Africa.Duikers are shy and elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover; most are forest dwellers and even the species living in more open areas are quick to disappear...
s, giant forest hogs and small antelope in its diet. These cats have also been known to take domestic poultry and livestock.
Reproduction
Knowledge of the African Golden Cat's reproductive habits is based on captive specimens. They breed readily in captivity. The mother gives birth to one or two kittens after a gestation period of around 75 days. The kittens weigh 180 to 235 g (6.3 to 8.3 oz), but grow and develop rapidly in comparison with other small cat species. One individual was reported to be scaling a 40 centimetres (15.7 in) wall within sixteen days of birth, reflecting a high degree of physical agility from an early age. The kittens' eyes open within a week of birth, and they are weaned at 6–8 weeks. Females reach sexual maturity at eleven months of age, but the males do not do so until eighteen months.These cats live up to twelve years in captivity, but their lifespan in the wild is unknown.
Subspecies
There are two subspecies of the African Golden Cat:- Profelis aurata aurata - from Congo to Uganda
- Profelis aurata celidogaster - throughout Western Africa
Each of the subspecies has two distinct spotting patterns. P. a. aurata can either have spots just on its lower body, or no spots at all except a few indistinct spots on the belly. P. a. celidogaster can either be spotted all over, or have a few spots on the back and neck with a few large spots on the sides of the body.
The African Golden Cat is similar to the Asian Golden Cat, However, genetic analysis has determined that they are not closely related . Its closest relatives are the Caracal Caracal caracal and Serval Leptailurus serval. The Asian Golden Cat Pardofelis temminckii belongs to the genus Pardofelis
Pardofelis
Pardofelis was first proposed by the Russian explorer and naturalist Nikolai Severtzov in 1858 as generic name comprising a single felid species occurring in tropical Asia, the marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata....
External links
- Rare African Golden Cat sightings
- Elusive golden cat caught on film in Uganda (black & white) (2009) and Gabon (colour) (2011)