African golden cat
Caracal aurata
African golden cat
APPEARANCE
The African golden cat is a medium-sized cat with a compact body and relatively short legs. Its head is small to its body, and its ears are rounded. The fur can be reddish brown or grayish, spotted or smooth. The throat, chest, and underside of the body are white, and there are usually large dark spots on the belly. African golden cats have white spots around the eyes and on the cheeks. In areas where melanistic golden cats have been reported, they account for about 5% of all individuals. The African golden cat’s tail makes up about a third of its body length.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
The African golden cat is an endemic species of the African rainforest and is found throughout equatorial Africa, from Senegal through the Congo Basin to Uganda.
It is a species strongly associated with high-humidity forests. It prefers mainly equatorial forests. However, it seems to be quite adaptable and is also found in montane and bamboo forests, as well as coastal forests and wooded savannas.
FOOD
Most of the African golden cat’s prey is rodents. It also preys on birds, bats, and primates.
MAIN THREATS
The main threat to the African golden cat is habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation.
Bibliography
- Sunquist, M., F. Sunquist. 2002. Wild Cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press
