The African golden cat is twice as large as domestic cats. [7] Felis rutilus proposed by George Robert Waterhouse in 1842 was a reddish cat skin from Sierra Leone. Its rounded head is very small in relation to its body size. The African golden cat is one of the three medium-sized African cats. Grey skins have hairs that are not pigmented in their middle zones, whereas hair of red skins is pigmented intensively red. African golden cat can be found in tropical rainforests, bamboo forests and cloud forests at the altitude of up to 9.800 feet. [1], The African golden cat is listed in CITES Appendix II. [11] Thanks for subscribing! This … African golden cats live in the rainforests of West and Central Africa, mostly in forested areas. African golden cats have fur that varies in color from golden-brown and red-brown to grey. African golden cats are robust animals with short, stocky limbs adept for arboreal hunting. The African golden cat is a medium-sized, compactly built cat with relatively short legs. Distribution. African golden cats range from 3 to 18 kg in weight. African golden cats hunt on the ground, but are also able to climb. [10], In 1858, Nikolai Severtzov proposed the generic names Profelis with F. celidogaster as type species, and Chrysailurus with F. neglecta as type species. It has also been reported the cat’s fur can change color due to factors such as age and environment. [4], African golden cats are able to climb, but hunt primarily on the ground. Get BigCatsWildCats updates and wild cat news from around the world. [5] [13][10][14][15][2], Phylogenetic analysis of cat samples showed that the African golden cat is closely related with the caracal (Caracal caracal). Deforestation is destroying tropical rainforests and African Golden Cat habitat. Initially the cat was thought to be related to the Asiatic golden cat, but additional research has determined the cat is more closely related to the caracal. Many of these cats are also spotted. The African golden cat (Profelis aurata) is little known by science, but is the subject of much tribal superstition in many parts of Africa.Pygmy tribes in Cameroon carry the tail of the African golden cat when hunting elephants to ensure good fortune, and the … The female gives birth to one or two kittens after a gestation period of around 75 days. Tail length ranges from 16 to 46 cm (6.3 to 18.1 in), and shoulder height is about 38 to 55 cm (15 to 22 in). You can see from the picture that this cat is not always golden in color. Its tail is darker on the top and either heavily banded, lightly banded or plain, ending in a black tip. Learn how your comment data is processed. Because of this close relationship, the African golden cat has been placed into the genus Caracal. Hair of melanistic skins is entirely black. According to known species ranges, there are very few areas that actually indicate a possibly sympatric presence of all three species, and we believe this to be the first documentation of such an occurrence. African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata) is wild cat that lives in tropical forests in Kenya, Senegal, Central African Republic and Angola. caracal. In captivity, they live up to 12 years. There are two subspecies of African golden cat that differs in color and type of habitat. African golden cats live in Africa in regions near the equator. African golden cats have fur that varies in color from golden-brown and red-brown to grey. Social System and Communication: Solitary – no other information known. The cats hunt and feed on rodents, blue duikers, birds, monkeys, hogs and antelope. A similar phenomenon may occur in the natural environment. They generally weigh between 15 and 35 lbs. Their lifespan in the wild is unknown. The cats are reclusive, small wild cats that can be found in tropical rainforests. Subspecies: There are two African golden cat subspecies, the Profelis aurata aurata and the Profelis aurata celidogaster. [4], The African golden cat is threatened by extensive deforestation of tropical rainforests, their conversion to oil palm plantations coupled with mining activities and road building, thus destroying its essential habitat. [2] Its body size ranges from 61 to 101 cm (24 to 40 in) with a 16 to 46 cm (6.3 to 18.1 in) long tail. [4][19], Knowledge of the African golden cat's reproductive habits is based on captive individuals. This cat is closely related to the caracal.. Its fur color can change over time. Two color morphs, a red and a grey phase, were once thought to indicate separate species, rather than colour variations of the same species. Wild Cats: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. The fur around their eyes, cheeks, chin, throat and underside is often lighter than the res… The fur around their eyes, cheeks, chin, throat and underside is often lighter than the rest of their coat. The female gestation period is approximately 75 days. Their fur can be golden, gray, red, sometimes black and also spotted. African golden cat recorded by camera trap in the Chinko/Mbari basin, CAR in the early morning. African golden cat is a type of wild cat that inhabits western and central parts of Africa. They are of medium size and height compared to the sizes of other cats; however, they are very famous for their coats which have been known to change color as they mature and grow and have an extremely stunning, and attractive color. [3] Previously, it was placed in the genus Profelis. It is a close relative of both the Caracal and the Serval. Its undersides and areas around the eyes, cheeks, chin, and throat are lighter in colour to almost white. African golden cats are carnivores, preying on mid-sized mammals including tree hyraxes, smaller forest antelopes, red duikers, and monkeys, and sometimes birds and fish. The African golden cat is currently classified as Vulnerable (VU) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and protected under appendices II and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The head is relatively robust with a short face, heavy muzzle and rounded ears with greyish-black backs. "The Late Miocene Radiation of Modern Felidae: A Genetic Assessment", "On some new species of Quadrupeds and Shells", "Description of two Mammals from the Ituri Forest", "Notice sur la classification multisériale des Carnivores, spécialement des Félidés, et les études de zoologie générale qui s'y rattachent", "The classification of the existing Felidae", "Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Felidae using 16S rRNA and NADH-5 mitochondrial genes", "Phylogeny and evolution of cats (Felidae)", "A revised taxonomy of the Felidae: The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group", "High mammalian diversity in the newly established National Park of Upper Niger, Republic of Guinea", "Inventorying medium-and large-sized mammals in the African lowland rainforest using camera trapping", Species portrait African golden cat; IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group, "African Golden Cat: camera traps capture stunning photos of Africa's least-known felid", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_golden_cat&oldid=994970976, Mammals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Short description is different from Wikidata, Taxonbars with automatically added original combinations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Distribution of the African golden cat, 2015, This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 14:28. This small, elusive forest dweller easily slips by unnoticed, and until very recently, failed to show up on the radar screens of most conservationists. cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) stands in long grass in savannah, maasai mara national reserve - african golden cat stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Hunting and Diet: The primary prey of this cat is small to mid-sized mammals consisting of tree hyraxes, large and small rodents, small antelope, and birds. African golden cats are nocturnal animals, with peak periods of activity in the early morning and evening. .mw-parser-output table.clade{border-spacing:0;margin:0;font-size:100%;line-height:100%;border-collapse:separate;width:auto}.mw-parser-output table.clade table.clade{width:100%;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label{width:0.7em;padding:0 0.15em;vertical-align:bottom;text-align:center;border-left:1px solid;border-bottom:1px solid;white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-fixed-width{overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-fixed-width:hover{overflow:visible}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label.first{border-left:none;border-right:none}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label.reverse{border-left:none;border-right:1px solid}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel{padding:0 0.15em;vertical-align:top;text-align:center;border-left:1px solid;white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel:hover{overflow:visible}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel.last{border-left:none;border-right:none}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel.reverse{border-left:none;border-right:1px solid}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-bar{vertical-align:middle;text-align:left;padding:0 0.5em;position:relative}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-bar.reverse{text-align:right;position:relative}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leaf{border:0;padding:0;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leafR{border:0;padding:0;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leaf.reverse{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.clade:hover span.linkA{background-color:yellow}.mw-parser-output table.clade:hover span.linkB{background-color:green}, The African golden cat has a fur colour ranging from chestnut or reddish-brown, greyish brown to dark slaty. It is only found in the forests of equatorial Africa (green polygon on the map). The African Golden Cat is a beautiful, but rarely studied species of exotic cats that have originated from Africa. Diet African Golden Cats mainly feed on rodents, birds, hyraxes, small antelope, monkeys and domestic livestock. It is 62 to 101 centimeters or 24 to 40 inches long and weights about 8 to 14 kilos or 18 to 35 lbs. They have a semi-complete postorbital closure and small anterior premolars. The African golden cat is Africa's least known wild cat species. The African golden cat (Caracal aurata) is a wild cat endemic to the rainforests of West and Central Africa. They grow and develop rapidly in comparison with other small cat species. The cat has a stocky build, with a head that is considerably smaller than its body. [17], Two African golden cat subspecies are recognised as valid since 2017:[18], The following cladogram shows the phylogenetic relationships of the African golden cat:[3][17] [1] Hunting African golden cats is prohibited in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. Scientific Name: Caracal aurata, also Profelis aurata. [22] Its eye colour ranges from pale blue to brown. In Gabon's Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, it was recorded in forested areas during surveys in 2012. The body length of an African golden cat averages 31 inches long, with a 12 inch tail. [10], Skins 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. One individual was reported to be scaling a 40-cm wall within 16 days of birth, reflecting a high degree of physical agility from an early age. Globally, the 33 species of small cats receive little attention compared to their big cousins. Cheetah Panthera leo melanochaita-Wikipedia The carnivores that are present include leopards, African golden cat s, servals, different mongooses and two species of otter. [21], In Uganda's Kibale National Park, an African golden cat was recorded in an old growth forest patch in 2008. The African Golden Cat is endemic to Africa and only occurs in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. This cat has a coat color variations, from chocolate silver, brown to ash-gray, with white coat color in the chin, the face of … The cat has a stocky build, with a head that is considerably smaller than its body. This lineage evolved nearly 8.5 million years ago. It is a close relative of both the caracal and the serval. The fur pattern of the African golden cat can vary significantly within and between regions. It weighs between 8 to 16 kilograms (17 to 35 pounds). The African Golden Cat is a medium sized, solidly built cat with a medium length tail that reaches just below the hind heel. It is illegal to hunt the cat in Benin, Burkina Faso, Angola, Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote d’lvoire. It prefers dense, moist forest with heavy undergrowth, and is often found close to rivers, but it may also be found in cloud forest, bamboo forests, and high moorland habitats. [20], The African golden cat inhabits tropical forests from sea level to 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The Profelis aurata aurata can be found from the Congo to Uganda, and the Profelis aurata celidogaster inhabits Western Africa. [23], Due to its extremely reclusive habits, little is known about the behaviour of African golden cats. It is also threatened by bushmeat hunting, particularly in the Congo Basin. They have also been known to take domestic poultry and livestock. African golden cats will often change the color of their fur when in captivity, from red to gray. The African golden cat (Caracal aurata) is a wild cat endemic to the rainforests of West and Central Africa. An adult African golden cat is small – from 61 to 101 centimeters (24 to 40 inches) in body length not counting the tail – slightly smaller than an American bobcat. [19] They are also the prey of leopards. The African golden cat is a wild cat endemic to the rainforests of West and Central Africa. Previously, it was placed in the genus Profelis. 2015 Feline Unseen: The African Golden Cat. The African golden cat (Caracal aurata) is a medium-sized cat.This cat was previously listed as Profelis aurata.It weighs about 28 kg (62 lb) on average.The underside of its chest and chin are normally light-colored. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Be active during the day or night, depending on their location kilos!, long legs, large paws body and its ears are rounded untufted... 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