Profelis aurata (Temminck, 1827)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Felidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 54-168 : 142

12.

African Golden Cat

Profelis aurata

French: Chat doré / German: Afrikanische Goldkatze / Spanish: Gato dorado africano

Taxonomy. Felis aurata Temminck, 1827 ,

West Africa. Probably from the coastal region of Lower Guinea.

Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P. a. aurata Temminck, 1827 — C Africa E to Kenya.

P.a. celidogaster Temminck, 1827 — W Africa.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 61.6-101 cm, tail 16.3-34. 9 cm; adult males heavier (11-16 kg) than adult females (6-8 kg). Coat color and pattern highly variable, with a reddish-brown and a grayish phase; coat can be spotted or plain. Melanistic and partially melanistic individuals also known. Throat, chest, and undersides whitish with large dark spots or blotches. Face round with heavy muzzle. Ears small, blunt and almost completely black on back. Short tail with distinct bands, unbanded, or intermediate banding. Fur between shoulders and crown of head points forward, with whorls and low ridge marking junction where hair changes direction. Thought to have an extensive vocal repertoire, including hiss, meow, growl, purr, and gurgle.

Habitat. Primary habitat is moist forest, often along rivers. Also found in secondary undergrowth, logged forest with dense understory, montane forest, alpine moorlands, and bamboo forest. Recorded from riverine forest where watercourses penetrate open savannas.

Food and Feeding. Variety of differentsized prey, including dwarf-antelope and duikers, primates ( Cercopithecidae ), brush-tailed porcupine, shrews, elephant shrews ( Macroscelididae ), rats, pangolins, squirrels, hyraxes, unidentified birds, and small mammals. Stalk and ambush hunter, catching most ofits prey on the ground.

Activity patterns. Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal but some diurnal activity reported.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nothing known.

Breeding. One observation of a female with single nursing young in Ituri Forest, Zaire. Only two captive births recorded; both were of two kittens, following 75day gestation. A captive male first bred successfully at 18 months of age.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Little reliable information on status in the wild. Thought to be rare in many countries of equatorial Africa but also described as locally common in Tai and Azagny National Parks, Ivory Coast, and in secondary forest in Uganda. The species is believed to thrive in logged forest with dense secondary growth, so it may be in less danger than other small cats. However, the species is frequently killed while raiding poultry or livestock. Loss or degradation of moist forest habitats are threats to longterm survival.

Bibliography. Hart et al. (1996), Kingdon (1971-1982), van Mensch & van Bree (1969), Nowell & Jackson (1996), Peters (1984b), Peters & Hast (1994), Ray & Sunquist (2001), Rosevear (1974), Sunquist & Sunquist (2002), Tonkin & Kohler (1978), Wilson (1987), Wozencraft (1993).

Figures

8. Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata), 9. Bay Cat (Catopuma badia), 10. Asian Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), 11. Serval (Leptailurus serval), 12. African Golden Cat (Profelis aurata), 13. Caracal (Caracal caracal)

Subspecies and Distribution. P. a. aurata Temminck, 1827 — C Africa E to Kenya . P.a. celidogaster Temminck, 1827 — W Africa.