It is a close relative of both the caracal and the serval. [4], In Guinea's National Park of Upper Niger, it was recorded during surveys conducted in 1996 to 1997. The body length of an African golden cat averages 31 inches long, with a 12 inch tail. However, all of the cat’s various fur colors have been seen throughout its range. In Gabon, Liberia and Togo, hunting regulations are in place.[24]. It has also been reported the cat’s fur can change color due to factors such as age and environment. It can grow between 24-40 inches long and weighs 12 to 35 lbs. Subspecies: There are two African golden cat subspecies, the Profelis aurata aurata and the Profelis aurata celidogaster. This is affected by its age and other factors. The African Golden Cat. The Profelis aurata aurata can be found from the Congo to Uganda, and the Profelis aurata celidogaster inhabits Western Africa. No effort to import new animals into North America is supported. The animals have a variety of colors. Their eyes open within a week of birth, and they are weaned at 6–8 weeks. They are also the prey of leopards. Breeding The body length of an African golden cat averages 31 inches long, with a 12 inch tail. [7] Felis rutilus proposed by George Robert Waterhouse in 1842 was a reddish cat skin from Sierra Leone. Scientific Name: Caracal aurata, also Profelis aurata. Although its name implies a golden coloured coat the golden cat is polymorphic – its base coat coloration varies extensively depending on its location -ranging from a golden… Not much is known about this solitary small wild cat. African golden cat recorded by camera trap in the Chinko/Mbari basin, CAR in the early morning. OUR DATA: We use the most recent data from these primary sources: AnAge, UMICH, Max Planck, PanTHERIA, Arkive, UKC, AKC. Poaching snares are the leading threat to one of Africa’s least known wild cats. It is also threatened by bushmeat hunting, particularly in the Congo Basin. Then on Saturday May 18, a young female African golden cat, in golden morph, was hit and killed on the main tarmac road not far from Kieni forest station on the southern end of the Aberdares. The African golden cat can be found in tropical forests, from Senegal to Kenya, and the Central African Republic to Angola. They have a semi-complete postorbital closure and small anterior premolars. 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. Smallest African cat and endemic to the southwestern arid zone of Southern Africa. Like the Asian species, it's known by two scientific names. 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. 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. The human population within the distribution area of this cat shows the fastest growth rate in the world at 2.6 to … “Species” means a type or sort of wild cat that is different from the others. African golden cat attacks monkey in Uganda. big lion male - african golden cat stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. It is about 80 cm (31.5 inches) long, and has a tail of about 30 cm (approximately one foot) in length. The golden cat hereafter AGC, is considered an elusive species and reported to be very rare over its range, and among the least known carnivores in Africa. Select from premium African Golden Cat of the highest quality. [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. The Caracal aurata is a wild cat that is found only in Central and West Africa. Hunting and deforestation have caused an estimated 44% loss of the cat’s habitat. A similar phenomenon may occur in the natural environment. Get BigCatsWildCats updates and wild cat news from around the world. BEHAVIOR The solitary African Golden Cat feeds mainly on rodents and birds, and is active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular) and at night (nocturnal). [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. Learn how your comment data is processed. It occupies the central African forests whereas the Caracal ranges over the more arid regions and Servals occur in the moister habitats. Across its range, the African golden cat (Caracal aurata) is threatened by human activity most notably poaching, habitat destruction and human-wildlife conflict. It is a close relative of both the Caracal and the Serval. There are two subspecies of African golden cat that differs in color and type of habitat. The African golden cat is medium in size, with short paws and a tail ending with black fur. African golden cat is a type of wild cat that inhabits western and central parts of Africa. It is a close relative of both the caracal and the serval. The African Golden Cat is a medium sized cat and can grow to 90cm in body length and weigh up to 18kg. The African golden cat (Caracal aurata) is a wild cat endemic to the rainforests of West and Central Africa. African golden cats hunt on the ground, but are also able to climb. No records of these cats exist for Benin or Nigeria, leaving a large gap between existing populations. Proper food and nutrients are essential to … Two color morphs, a red and a grey phase, were once thought to indicate separate species, rather than colour variations of the same species. Even so, the golden cat is found most often in forested areas with very dense and moist secondary undergrowth, often along rivers. Their coat can vary from color, ranging from reddish to grey and is sometimes spotted. Felis neglecta proposed by John Edward Gray in 1838 was a brownish grey cat skin from Sierra Leone. This lineage evolved nearly 8.5 million years ago. [13][10][14][15][2], Phylogenetic analysis of cat samples showed that the African golden cat is closely related with the caracal (Caracal caracal). Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. One is Caracal aurata and the other, which is less common today, is Profelis aurata. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. Discover How Long African golden cat Lives. African golden cats live in the rainforests of West and Central Africa, mostly in forested areas. The male cats are larger than the females, as usual. 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