Prionailurus
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Four species in the Genus Prionailurus, better known as the Asian small cats, inhabit niche ranges throughout the continent.
The Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), named for its spots, is a small species, about the size of a domestic cat.
Three different subspecies are recognized, with the primary species inhabiting a wide range of Southeast Asian forest areas.
The large range means that human development in the region has thus far only slightly impacted its population levels. The IUCN lists its status as Least Concern.
One subspecies, the Iriomote Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis ssp. iriomotensis), recently discovered on a Taiwan island, is listed as Critically Endangered.
Another subspecies, the Visayan Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis ssp. rabori), inhabits a few of the Philippine islands. Its status is listed as Vulnerable.
The Flat-headed Cat (Prionailurus planiceps), a native of Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra and Malaysia, inhabits forests and grassland areas next to water bodies where it hunts fish. The IUCN lists its statuss as Endangered.
Perhaps the smallest of the wild cats, the Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), inhabits fields and forests of Sri Lanka and Southern India. The species is understudied and the IUCN lists them as vulnerable in the wild.
Fishing Cats (Prionailurus viverrinus), the largest members of the genus Prionailurus, inhabit wetland and water areas from India, east to Vietnam. While their diet does consist of fish, they also consumes birds, rodents and insects within their range. The IUCN lists their status as Endangered.
© 2010 Patricia A. Michaels.