Flat-headed Cat
Prionailurus planiceps
Flat-headed Cat Prionailurus planiceps |
Body Length(mm) -450-600 Weight (kg) - 5-7 Litter Size - no data Life Span - 14 years Status - Vulnerable
None |
The
Flat-headed cat which is native to an area spreading from
India trough to parts of China, Java and Bali is another
example of a cat who’s appearance seems set apart
from that expected of a member of the felidae family. The
cat is about the size of a large domestic cat, measuring
up to just over 24 inches in body size with a short tail
and legs. The head of the cat appears slightly flattened
on the top, which gives the cat its name, and the muzzle
slightly extended. The overall fur coloration is brown on
the flanks and back with a paler underside leading to a
white bid and chin - the rest of the cats head is reddish
brown in color, having white streaks along the side of
its nose, beneath the eyes and on the front of the ears.
Another interesting departure in the flat-headed cat is
that its claws do not fully retract into their protective
sheaths. This occurs in only a few of the wild cats,
notably its close neighbour, the fishing
cat and geoffrey’s
cat found
in the Americas. Rarely seen in the wild the flat-headed cat is a crepuscular or nocturnal hunter and is to be found searching for prey in areas of tropical rainforest bordering streams and rivers. Its main prey consists of fish and aquatic animals, along with birds and small rodents. Not sufficient is known about the density of population of the flat-headed cat to establish its true status but it is believed to be endangers throughout most of its range and has been listed in CITES Appendix 1 since 1975.
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