Ajay Kumar at 21:05, 30 August 2023

2023-08-30T21:05:55Z

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{{short description|Small wild cat}}
{{Distinguish|African golden cat|Bay cat}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Asian golden cat
| image = Asian Golden cat.jpg
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{Cite iucn |title=''Catopuma temminckii'' |name-list-style=amp |author=McCarthy, J. |author2=Dahal, S. |author3=Dhendup, T. |author4=Gray, T.N.E. |author5=Mukherjee, S. |author6=Rahman, H. |author7=Riordan, P. |author8=Boontua, N. |author9=Wilcox, D. |page=e.T4038A97165437 |date=2015 |access-date=15 January 2022}}</ref>
| status2 = CITES_A1
| status2_system = CITES
| status2_ref = <ref name=iucn/>
| genus = Catopuma
| species = temminckii
| authority = ([[Nicholas Aylward Vigors|Vigors]] & [[Thomas Horsfield|Horsfield]], 1827)
| range_map = AsianGoldenCat_distribution.jpg
| range_map_caption = Distribution of the Asian golden cat, 2015<ref name=iucn/>
| synonyms = ''Pardofelis temminckii''
}}

The '''Asian golden cat''' ('''''Catopuma temminckii''''') is a medium-sized [[Felidae|wild cat]] native to the northeastern [[Indian subcontinent]], [[Southeast Asia]] and [[China]]. It has been listed as [[Near Threatened]] on the [[IUCN Red List]] since 2008, and is threatened by [[poaching]] and [[habitat destruction]], since Southeast Asian forests are undergoing the world's fastest regional [[deforestation]].<ref name=iucn/>

The Asian golden cat's [[scientific name]] honours [[Coenraad Jacob Temminck]]. It is also called '''Temminck's cat''' and '''Asiatic golden cat'''.<ref name =WCoW/>

==Taxonomy==
''Felis temmincki'' was the [[scientific name]] used in 1827 by [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors]] and [[Thomas Horsfield]] who [[scientific description|described]] a reddish brown cat skin from Sumatra.<ref name=VigorsHorsfield>{{cite journal |last1=Vigors, N. A. |last2=Horsfield, T. |name-list-style=amp |year=1827 |title=Descriptions of two species of the genus ''Felis'', in the collections of the Zoological Society |journal=The Zoological Journal |volume=III |issue=11 |pages=449–451 |url=https://archive.org/details/zoologicaljourna318271828sowe/page/450}}</ref>
''Felis moormensis'' proposed by [[Brian Houghton Hodgson]] in 1831 was a young male cat caught alive by [[Murmi|Moormi]] hunters in Nepal.<ref name=Hodgson1831>{{cite journal |last1=Hodgson |first1=B. H. |year=1831 |title=Some Account of a new Species of Felis |journal=Gleanings in Science |volume=III |issue=30 |pages=177–178 |url=https://archive.org/details/gleaningsscienc3/page/176}}</ref> ''Felis tristis'' proposed by [[Alphonse Milne-Edwards]] in 1872 was a spotted Asian golden cat from China.<ref name=Milne1872>{{cite book |last1=Milne-Edwards, A. |year=1872 |title=Étude pour servir à l'histoire de la faune mammalogique de la Chine. Recherches pour servir à l'histoire des mammifères comprenant des considérations sur la classification de ces animaux |location=Paris |publisher=G. Masson |pages=223−224 |chapter=''Felis tristis'', nov. sp. |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/recherchespourse01miln/recherchespourse01miln#page/222/mode/2up}}</ref>

It was subordinated to the [[Genus (biology)|genus]] ''Catopuma'' proposed by [[Nikolai Severtzov]] in 1853.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Severtzow |first1=M. N. |year=1858 |title=Notice sur la classification multisériale des Carnivores, spécialement des Félidés, et les études de zoologie générale qui s'y rattachent |journal=Revue et Magasin de Zoologie Pure et Appliquée |volume=X |pages=385–396 |url=https://archive.org/stream/revueetmagasinde10soci#page/387/mode/2up}}</ref>
Two [[subspecies]] are recognised as [[Valid name (zoology)|valid]] since 2017:<ref name=catsg>{{cite journal |author1=Kitchener, A. C. |author2=Breitenmoser-Würsten, C. |author3=Eizirik, E. |author4=Gentry, A. |author5=Werdelin, L. |author6=Wilting, A. |author7=Yamaguchi, N. |author8=Abramov, A. V. |author9=Christiansen, P. |author10=Driscoll, C. |author11=Duckworth, J. W. |author12=Johnson, W. |author13=Luo, S.-J. |author14=Meijaard, E. |author15=O'Donoghue, P. |author16=Sanderson, J. |author17=Seymour, K. |author18=Bruford, M. |author19=Groves, C. |author20=Hoffmann, M. |author21=Nowell, K. |author22=Timmons, Z. |author23=Tobe, S. |name-list-style=amp |year=2017 |title=A revised taxonomy of the Felidae: The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group |journal=Cat News |volume=Special Issue 11 |pages=36−37 |url=https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/32616/A_revised_Felidae_Taxonomy_CatNews.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |access-date=2018-06-15 |archive-date=2018-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730142355/https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/32616/A_revised_Felidae_Taxonomy_CatNews.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''C. t. temminckii'' occurs in Sumatra and the [[Malay Peninsula]]
* ''C. t. moormensis'' occurs from Nepal eastwards to [[Southeast Asia]]

=== Phylogeny ===
[[Phylogenetic]] analysis of the [[nuclear DNA]] in tissue samples from all [[Felidae]] species revealed that the [[evolutionary radiation]] of the Felidae began in Asia in the [[Miocene]] around {{mya|14.45|8.38}}.<ref name=Johnson2006>{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=W. E. |last2=Eizirik |first2=E. |last3=Pecon-Slattery |first3=J. |last4=Murphy |first4=W. J. |author5=Antunes, A. |author6=Teeling, E. |author7=O'Brien, S. J. |name-list-style=amp |year=2006 |doi=10.1126/science.1122277 |title=The Late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: A genetic assessment |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=311 |pages=73–77 |pmid=16400146 |issue=5757 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1230866 |bibcode=2006Sci...311...73J |s2cid=41672825 |access-date=2019-06-29 |archive-date=2020-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004075725/https://zenodo.org/record/1230866 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Werdelin2010>{{cite book |last1=Werdelin |first1=L. |last2=Yamaguchi |first2=N. |last3=Johnson |first3=W. E. |last4=O'Brien |first4=S. J. |name-list-style=amp |chapter=Phylogeny and evolution of cats (Felidae) |year=2010 |pages=59–82 |chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266755142 |editor1-last=Macdonald |editor1-first=D. W. |editor2-last=Loveridge |editor2-first=A. J. |title=Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-0-19-923445-5 |access-date=2019-04-14 |archive-date=2018-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925141956/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266755142 |url-status=live }}</ref> Analysis of [[mitochondrial DNA]] of all Felidae species indicates a radiation at around {{mya|16.76|6.46}}.<ref name=Li_al2016>{{cite journal |author=Li, G. |author2=Davis, B. W. |author3=Eizirik, E. |name-list-style=amp |author4=Murphy, W. J. |year=2016 |title=Phylogenomic evidence for ancient hybridization in the genomes of living cats (Felidae) |journal=Genome Research |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |doi=10.1101/gr.186668.114 |pmid=26518481 |pmc=4691742}}</ref>
The Asian golden cat forms an [[Lineage (evolution)|evolutionary lineage]] together with the [[bay cat]] (''C. badia'') and the [[marbled cat]] (''Pardofelis marmorata''), which diverged from a [[common ancestor]] between {{mya|8.42|4.27}}, based on analysis of their nuclear DNA.<ref name=Johnson2006/><ref name=Werdelin2010/> Analysis of their mitochondrial DNA indicates a genetic divergence from their common ancestor between {{mya|8.47|0.41}}.<ref name=Li_al2016/>
Both models agree that the marbled cat is the first species of this lineage that diverged, while the Asian golden cat and the bay cat diverged from each other about {{mya|6.42|0.03}}<ref name=Johnson2006/><ref name=Li_al2016/>

The following [[cladogram]] shows the phylogenetic relationships of the Asian golden cat:<ref name=Johnson2006/><ref name=Werdelin2010/><ref name=Li_al2016/>
{{cladogram |align=left |style=font-size:90%;line-height:100%;width:500px;
|cladogram={{clade |label1=Felidae 
|1={{clade
|label1= [[Felinae]]
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|1='''Asian golden cat'''
|2=Bay cat
}}
|2=Marbled cat
}}}}
|2=other Felinae lineages
}}}}}}
|2=[[Pantherinae]]
}}}}}}
{{clear}}

==Characteristics==
[[File:Fishing&goldencatskulls.png|thumb|Illustration of skulls of Asian golden cat (bottom) and [[fishing cat]] (top)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pocock |first1=R. I. |year=1939 |title=The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Mammalia. – Volume 1 |location=London |publisher=Taylor and Francis, Ltd. |pages=258–266 |chapter=Genus ''Profelis'' Severtzow |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/PocockMammalia1/pocock1#page/n331/mode/2up}}</ref>]]
[[File:Catopuma temminckii 2.jpg|thumb|A grey morph of the Asian golden cat, [[Arunachal Pradesh]], India]]
The Asian golden cat is a medium-sized cat with a head-to-body length of {{convert|66|-|105|cm|in|abbr=on}}, with a {{convert|40|-|57|cm|in|abbr=on}} long tail, and is {{convert|56|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall at the shoulder. In weight, it ranges from {{convert|9|to|16|kg|lb|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}, which is about two or three times that of a domestic [[cat]] (''Felis catus'').<ref name=WCoW>{{cite book |last1=Sunquist, M. |last2=Sunquist, F. |name-list-style=amp |year=2002 |chapter=Asiatic golden cat ''Catopuma temminckii'' (Vigors and Horsfield, 1827) |title=Wild Cats of the World |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |pages=52–56 |isbn=0-226-77999-8 |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/wildcatsofworld00sunq/page/52}}</ref>

The Asian golden cat is [[Polymorphism (biology)|polymorphic]] in colour. Golden, reddish brown and buff brown individuals were recorded in [[northeastern India]] and [[Bhutan]].<ref name=Bashir2011>{{cite journal |last1=Bashir, T. |last2=Bhattacharya, T. |last3=Poudyal, K. |last4=Sathyakumar, S. |name-list-style=amp |year=2011 |title=Notable observations on the melanistic Asiatic Golden cat (''Pardofelis temminckii'') of Sikkim, India |journal=NeBIO |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=2–4}}</ref><ref name=Jigme2011>{{cite journal |last1=Jigme |first1=K. |year=2011 |title=Four colour morphs of and the altitudinal record of Asiatic Golden Cat in Bhutan |journal=Cat News |issue=55 |pages=12–13}}</ref><ref name=Nadig2016>{{cite journal |author=Nadig, S. |author2=R., N. |author3=Silva, A. P. |year=2016 |title=Small cats in the Himalayan foothills: the Asian Golden Cat of Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, India |journal=Small Wild Cat Conservation News |volume=2 |page=23 |url=http://www.wild-cat.org/SWCCN/SWCCN_2016_02.pdf |access-date=2017-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014426/http://www.wild-cat.org/SWCCN/SWCCN_2016_02.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite conference |last1=Mukherjee |first1=S. |last2=Choudhary |first2=P. |last3=Arthreya |first3=R. |last4=Karunakaran |first4=P. V. |name-list-style=amp |year=2018 |chapter=A tale of tails — an attempt to decipher small cat distributions by tail lengths |pages=11–12 |title=Proceedings of the First International Small Wild Cat Conservation Summit, 11–14 September 2017, United Kingdom |editor1-last=Appel |editor1-first=A. |editor2-last=Mukherjee |editor2-first=S. |editor3-last=Cheyne |editor3-first=S. M. |publisher=Wild Cat Network; Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History; Borneo Nature Foundation |location=Bad Marienberg, Germany; Coimbatore, India; Oxford, United Kingdom |chapter-url=http://smallwildcat.net/ |access-date=23 March 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330005706/http://www.smallwildcat.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Ghose_al2019>{{cite journal |last1=Ghose |first1=M. |last2=Sharma |first2=D. |last3=Murali |first3=N. S. |name-list-style=amp |year=2019 |title=First photographic evidence of polymorphic Asiatic Golden Cat ''Catopuma temminckii'' Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India |journal=Journal of Threatened Taxa |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=13502–13505 |doi=10.11609/jott.4254.11.4.13502-13505 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
Reddish brown morphs were recorded in [[Sumatra]].<ref name=VigorsHorsfield/><ref name=Holden2001>{{cite journal |last1=Holden, J. |year=2001 |title=Small cats in Kerinci Seblat National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia |journal=Cat News |issue=35 |pages=11–14}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Haidir |first1=I. A. |last2=Dinata |first2=Y. |last3=Linkie |first3=M. |last4=Macdonald, D. W. |name-list-style=amp |year=2013 |title=Asiatic Golden Cat and Sunda Clouded Leopard occupancy in the Kerinci Seblat landscape, west-central Sumatra |journal=Cat News |issue=59 |pages=7–10}}</ref>
[[Melanistic]] individuals were recorded in the [[eastern Himalaya]]s,<ref name=Bashir2011/><ref name=Jigme2011/><ref name=Ghimirey09>{{cite journal |last1=Ghimirey |first1=Y. |last2=Pal |first2=P. |name-list-style=amp |year=2009 |title=First camera trap image of Asiatic golden cat in Nepal |journal=Cat News |issue=51 |pages=17 |url=http://fonnepal.org/Downloads/CatNews51%20-%20Ghimirey%20%26%20Pal.pdf |access-date=2017-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726061302/http://fonnepal.org/Downloads/CatNews51%20-%20Ghimirey%20%26%20Pal.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-26 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and in Sumatra.<ref name=Holden2001/>
A spotted Asian golden cat with large rosettes on shoulders, flanks and hips was described for the first time based on a specimen from [[China]] in 1872.<ref name=Milne1872/> This morph was recorded in China, Bhutan and in [[West Bengal]]'s [[Buxa Tiger Reserve]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jutzeler |first1=E. |last2=Xie |first2=Y. |last3=Vogt |first3=K. |name-list-style=amp |year=2010 |title=Asiatic Golden Cat in China |journal=Cat News |issue=Special Issue 5 |pages=40–41 }}</ref><ref name=Wang07>{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=S. W. |year=2007 |title=A rare morph of the Asiatic golden cat in Bhutan's Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park |journal=Cat News |issue=47 |pages=27–28}}</ref><ref name=Ghose_al2019/>

==Distribution and habitat==
The Asian golden cat ranges from eastern [[Nepal]], northeastern [[India]] and [[Bhutan]] to [[Bangladesh]], [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]], [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]], [[Vietnam]], southern [[China]], [[Malaysia]] and [[Sumatra]]. It prefers forest habitats interspersed with rocky areas and inhabits dry [[Deciduous forest|deciduous]], [[Subtropical moist forest|subtropical]] [[Evergreen forests|evergreen]] and [[tropical rainforest]]s.<ref name="nowell96">{{cite book |last1=Nowell |first1=K. |last2=Jackson |first2=P. |year=1996 |chapter=Asiatic golden cat, ''Catopuma temmincki'' (Vigors and Horsfield, 1827) |title=Wild Cats: status survey and conservation action plan |publisher=IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group |location=Gland, Switzerland |pages=69−70}}</ref>

Since an individual was caught alive in 1831 in Nepal, the country was thought to be the westernmost part of the Asian golden cat's range.<ref name=Hodgson1831/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ellerman |first1=J. R. |last2=Morrison-Scott |first2=T. C. S. |year=1966 |title=Checklist of Palaearctic and Indian mammals 1758 to 1946 |location=London |publisher=British Museum |edition=Second |pages=311−312 |chapter=''Felis temmincki'' Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/checklistofpalae00elle/page/311}}</ref> In the 21st century, it was photographed in the country in May 2009 in [[Makalu Barun National Park]], at an elevation of {{convert|2517|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Ghimirey09/> In February 2019, it was also recorded in [[Gaurishankar Conservation Area]] at an elevation of {{convert|2540|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Koju, N.P. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Bashyal, B. |author3=Pandey, B.P. |author4=Thami, S. |author5=Dhamala, M.K. |author6=Shah, S.N. |year=2020 |title=New record on Asiatic Golden Cat ''Catopuma temminckii'' Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae): photographic evidence of its westernmost distribution in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal |journal=Journal of Threatened Taxa |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=15256–15261 |doi=10.11609/jott.5227.12.2.15256-15261|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In India, Asian golden cats were recorded in:
* temperate and [[subalpine forest]] in Sikkim's [[Khangchendzonga National Park]] up to an elevation of {{convert|3960|m|ft|abbr=on}};<ref name=Bashir2011/>
* wet hill forest of [[Buxa Tiger Reserve]] for the first time in February 2018 at elevations of {{convert|1025|and|1355|m|ft|abbr=on}};<ref name=Ghose_al2019/>
* open [[grassland]]s of [[Assam]]'s [[Manas National Park]];<ref>{{cite journal |author=Choudhury, A. |year=2007 |title=Sighting of Asiatic golden cat in the grasslands of Assam's Manas National Park |journal=Cat News |issue=47 |page=29}}</ref>
* the [[Khasi hills]] of [[Meghalaya]];<ref name=Nadig2016/>
* [[Mizoram]]'s [[Dampa Tiger Reserve]];<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gouda, J. |last2=Sethy, J. |last3=Chauhan, N. P. S. |name-list-style=amp |year=2016 |title=First photo capture of Asiatic golden cat in Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram, India |journal=Cat News |issue=64 |pages=26–27}}</ref>
* [[Arunachal Pradesh]]'s [[Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Pakke Tiger Reserve]], [[Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary]] and Singchung-Bugun Village Community Reserve.<ref name=Mukherjee_2019>{{cite journal |last1=Mukherjee |first1=S. |last2=Singh |first2=P. |last3=Silva |first3=A. |last4=Ri |first4=C. |last5=Kakati |first5=K. |last6=Borah |first6=B. |last7=Tapi |first7=T. |last8=Kadur |first8=S. |last9=Choudhary |first9=P. |last10=Srikant |first10=S. |last11=Nadig |first11=S. |last12=Navya |first12=R. |last13=Björklund |first13=R. |last14=Ramakrishnan |first14=U. |year=2019 |title=Activity patterns of the small and medium felid (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) guild in northeastern India |journal=Journal of Threatened Taxa |volume= 11 |issue=4 |pages=13432−13447 |doi=10.11609/jott.4662.11.4.13432-13447 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

In Bhutan's [[Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park]], it was recorded by [[camera trap]]s at an elevation of {{convert|3738|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Wang07/>

In northern Myanmar, it was recorded in [[Hkakaborazi National Park]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rao |first1=M. |last2=Than Myint |last3=Than Zaw |last4=Saw Htun |year=2005 |title=Hunting patterns in tropical forests adjoining the Hkakaborazi National Park, north Myanmar |journal=Oryx |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=292–300 |doi=10.1017/S0030605305000724 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259874385|doi-access=free }}</ref>
In 2015, it was recorded for the first time in the hill forests of [[Karen State]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Saw Sha Bwe Moo |last2=Froese |first2=G. Z. L. |last3=Gray |first3=T. N. E. |year=2017 |title=First structured camera-trap surveys in Karen State, Myanmar, reveal high diversity of globally threatened mammals |journal=Oryx |volume=52 |issue=3 |pages=537−543 |doi=10.1017/S0030605316001113|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In Laos, it also inhabits [[bamboo]] regrowth, scrub and degraded forest from the [[Mekong]] plains to at least {{convert|1100|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="duckworth99">{{cite book |last1=Duckworth |first1=J. W. |last2=Salter |first2=R. E. |last3=Khounboline |first3=K. (compilers) |year=1999 |title=Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report |location=Vientiane |publisher=IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Wildlife Conservation Society, Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management |url=http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/lao_wildlife_status_report_1999.pdf |access-date=2010-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004230630/http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/lao_wildlife_status_report_1999.pdf |archive-date=2011-10-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Johnson, A. |last2=Vongkhamheng, C. |last3=Saithongdam, T. |year=2009 |title=The diversity, status and conservation of small carnivores in a montane tropical forest in northern Laos |journal=Oryx |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=626–633 |doi=10.1017/S0030605309990238 |url=http://faculty.nelson.wisc.edu/treves/pubs/Arlyne/oryx.pdf |doi-access=free |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-date=2017-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810101757/http://faculty.nelson.wisc.edu/treves/pubs/Arlyne/oryx.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In China, it was recorded in protected areas in the [[Qinling]] and [[Minshan]] Mountains between 2004 and 2009.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Li, S. |last2=Wang, D. |last3=Lu, Z. |last4=Mc Shea, W. J. |year=2010 |title=Cats living with pandas: The status of wild felids within giant panda range, China |journal=Cat News |issue=52 |pages=20–23}}</ref>

Results of surveys in Sumatra indicated that it is more common than [[sympatric]] small cats, suggesting that it is more numerous than thought before the turn of the 21st century. It has been recorded in [[Kerinci Seblat National Park|Kerinci Seblat]] [[Gunung Leuser National Park|Gunung Leuser]] and [[Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park]]s.<ref name=Holden2001/><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Pusparini, W. |author2=Wibisono, H. T. |author3=Reddy, G. V. |author4=Tarmizi |author5=Bharata, P. |year=2014 |title=Small and medium sized cats in Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia |journal=Cat News |issue=Special Issue |pages=4–9 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Weiskopf, S. R. |author2=McCarthy, J. L. |author3=McCarthy, K. P. |author4=Shiklomanov, A. N. |author5=Wibisono, H.T. |author6=Pusparini, W. |year=2019 |title=The conservation value of forest fragments in the increasingly agrarian landscape of Sumatra |journal=Environmental Conservation |volume= 46|issue= 4|pages= 340–346|doi=10.1017/S0376892919000195|doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Behaviour and ecology ==
[[File:Asiatische-Goldkatze-Catopuma-temminckii-tier-katze-0001 2.JPG|thumb|Asian golden cat with a piece of meat]]
Asian golden cats are territorial and solitary. Previous observations suggested that they are primarily [[nocturnal]], but a field study on two [[Radio collar|radio-collar]]ed specimens revealed arrhythmic activity patterns dominated by [[crepuscular]] and [[Diurnal animal|diurnal]] activity peaks, with much less activity late at night. In the study, the male's territory was {{convert|47.7|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} in size and increased by more than 15% during the [[Monsoon|rainy season]]. The female's territory was {{convert|32.6|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} in size. Both cats traveled between only {{convert|55|m|ft|abbr=on}} to more than {{convert|9|km|mi|abbr=on}} in a day, and were more active in July than in March.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Grassman Jr. |first1=L. I. |last2=Tewes |first2=M. E. |last3=Silvy |first3=N. J. |last4=Kreetiyutanont |first4=K. |year=2005 |title=Ecology of three sympatric felids in a mixed evergreen forest in North-central Thailand |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume=86 |issue=1 |pages=29–38 |doi=10.1644/1545-1542(2005)086<0029:EOTSFI>2.0.CO;2 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-pdf/86/1/29/7025419/86-1-29.pdf |doi-access=free |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-date=2023-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307065156/https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-pdf/86/1/29/7025419/86-1-29.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
Asian golden cats recorded in northeast India were active during the day with activity peaks around noon.<ref name=Mukherjee_2019/>

Asian golden cats can climb trees when necessary. They hunt [[bird]]s, [[hares]], [[rodent]]s, [[reptile]]s, and small [[ungulate]]s such as [[muntjac]]s and young [[sambar (deer)|sambar deer]].<ref name="nowell96"/> They are capable of bringing down prey much larger than themselves, such as domestic [[water buffalo]] calves.<ref>Tun Yin (1967). ''Wild animals of Burma.'' Rangoon Gazette Ltd., Rangoon.</ref> In the mountains of Sikkim, Asian golden cats reportedly prey on [[ghoral]].<ref>Biswas, B. and Ghose, R. K. (1982). ''Progress report 1 on pilot survey of the WWF-India/Zoological Survey of India collaborative project on the status survey of the lesser cats in eastern India.'' Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta.</ref>

Captive Asian golden cats kill small prey with the nape bite typical of cats. They also pluck birds larger than pigeons before beginning to feed. Their vocalizations include hissing, spitting, meowing, purring, growling, and gurgling. Other methods of communication observed in captive Asian golden cats include scent marking, [[urine spraying]], raking trees and logs with claws, and [[scent rubbing|rubbing]] of the head against various objects – much like a domestic cat.<ref name=WCoW/>

=== Reproduction ===
Not much is known about the reproductive behavior of this rather elusive cat in the wild. Most of what is known has been learned from cats in captivity.<ref>{{cite book |author=Jones, M.L. |year=1977 |chapter=Record keeping and longevity of felids in captivity |editor=Eaton, R.L. |title=The World's Cats |volume=((Volume 3, no. 3)) |place=Seattle |publisher=Carnivore Research Institute, Burke Museum, University of Washington}}</ref> Female Asian golden cats are sexually mature between 18 and 24 months, while males mature at 24 months. Females come into [[estrus]] every 39 days, at which time they leave markings and seek contact with the male by adopting receptive postures.<ref>{{cite thesis |author=Mellen, J. |year=1989 |title=Reproductive behaviour of small captive cats (''Felis'' ssp.) |type=Ph.D. thesis |publisher=University of California |place=Davis}}</ref> During [[copulation (zoology)|intercourse]], the male will seize the skin of the neck of the female with his teeth. After a [[gestation]] period of 78 to 80 days, the female gives birth in a sheltered place to a [[Litter (animal)|litter]] of one to three kittens. The kittens weigh {{cvt|220|to|250|g}} at birth, but triple in size over the first eight weeks of life. They are born already possessing the adult coat pattern and open their eyes after six to twelve days.<ref name=WCoW/> In captivity, they live for up to twenty years.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Prator, T. |author2=Thomas, W.D. |author3=Jones, M. |author4=Dee, M. |year=1988 |chapter=A twenty-year overview of selected rare carnivores in captivity |pages=191–229 |editor1=Dresser, B. |editor2=Reece, R. |editor3=Maruska, E. |title=Proceedings of 5th world conference on breeding endangered species in captivity |place=Cincinnati, Ohio}}</ref>

== Threats ==
The Asian golden cat inhabits some of the fastest [[developing countries]] in the world, where it is increasingly threatened by [[habitat destruction]] following [[deforestation]], along with a declining [[ungulate]] prey base. In Sumatra, it has been reported killed in revenge for preying on poultry. In Southeast Asia and China, it is threatened by [[poaching]] for the [[Wildlife trade#Illegal wildlife trade|illegal wildlife trade]].<ref name="iucn"/> This trade has the greatest potential to do maximum harm in minimal time.<ref name="nowell96"/>

=== Illegal wildlife trade ===
Asian golden cats are poached mainly for their fur.<ref name="dkpy06">{{cite book |last1=Lynam |first1=A. J. |last2=Round |first2=P. |last3=Brockelman |first3=W. Y. |year=2006 |title=Status of birds and large mammals of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, Thailand |location=Bangkok, Thailand |publisher=Biodiversity Research and Training Program and Wildlife Conservation Society |url=http://www.wcsthailand.org/main/downloads/dpky/DPKY_project.pdf |access-date=2010-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727070004/http://www.wcsthailand.org/main/downloads/dpky/DPKY_project.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In [[Myanmar]], 111 body parts from at least 110 individuals were observed in four markets surveyed between 1991 and 2006. Numbers were significantly greater than those of non-threatened species. Among the observed skins was one with [[Rosette (zoology)|rosettes]]. Three of the surveyed markets are situated on international borders with China and [[Thailand]] and cater to international buyers, although the Asian golden cat is completely protected under the country's national legislation. Effective implementation and enforcement of [[CITES]] is considered inadequate.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shepherd |first1=C. R. |last2=Nijman |first2=V. |year=2008 |title=The wild cat trade in Myanmar |location=Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia |publisher=TRAFFIC Southeast Asia |url=http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_mammals40.pdf |access-date=2010-11-06 |archive-date=2010-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704203401/http://www.traffic.org/species-reports/traffic_species_mammals40.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Conservation==
''Pardofelis temminckii'' is included in [[CITES Appendix I]] and fully protected over most of its range. Hunting is prohibited in Bangladesh, China, India, [[Indonesia]], Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. Hunting is regulated in Laos. No information about protection status is available from Cambodia.<ref name="nowell96"/> In Bhutan, it is protected only within the boundaries of protected areas.<ref name=Wang07/>

=== In captivity ===
{{as of|2008|December}}, there were 20 Asian golden cats in eight European [[zoo]]s participating in the [[European Endangered Species Programme]]. The pair in the [[Germany|German]] [[Wuppertal Zoo]] successfully bred in 2007, and in July 2008, two siblings were born and mother-reared. In 2008, a female kitten was also born in the French [[Parc des Félins]]. The species is also kept in the [[Singapore Zoo]].<ref>EAZA Felid TAG (2009). [http://www.eaza.net/activities/cp/yearbook20072008/32_Felid_TAG.pdf ''EAZA Felid TAG Annual Report 2007–2008''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720150926/http://www.eaza.net/activities/cp/yearbook20072008/32_Felid_TAG.pdf |date=July 20, 2011 }}. In: EAZA Yearbook 2007/2008. European Association of Zoos and Aquaria</ref> Apart from these, a few zoos in [[Southeast Asia]] and [[Australia]] also keep Asian golden cats.

==Local names==
In China, the Asian golden cat is thought to be a kind of leopard and is known as "rock cat" or "yellow leopard". Different colour phases have different names; those with black fur are called "inky leopards", and those with spotted coats are called "sesame leopards".<ref name =WCoW/>

In some regions of Thailand, the Asian golden cat is called ''Seua fai'' ({{lang-th|เสือไฟ}}; "fire tiger"). According to a regional legend, the burning of an Asian golden cat's fur drives [[tiger]]s away. Eating the flesh is believed to have the same effect. The [[Karen people]] believe that carrying a single hair of the cat is sufficient.<ref>{{cite book |author=Lekagul, B. |author2=McNeely, J.A. |year=1977 |title=Mammals of Thailand |publisher=Association for the Conservation of Wildlife |location=Bangkok}}</ref> Many indigenous people believe the cat to be fierce, but in captivity it has been known to be docile and tranquil. In the [[Southern Thailand|south]], it is called ''Kang kude'' ({{lang-th|คางคูด}}) and believed to be a fierce animal that can hurt or eat livestock and larger animals such as [[Asian elephant|elephants]].<ref>{{cite web |title=เสือไฟกัดช้างตาย |date=2015 |url=http://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/626756 |access-date=2017-08-01 |work=Bangkokbiznews |language=th |archive-date=2017-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801172130/http://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/626756 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pardofelis temminckii|Asian golden cat}}
{{Wikispecies|Catopuma temminckii}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=117 |publisher=IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group |title=Asiatic Golden Cat}}

{{Carnivora|Fe.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q192233}}

[[Category:Felines]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1827]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Nicholas Aylward Vigors]]
[[Category:Mammals of Nepal]]
[[Category:Mammals of India]]
[[Category:Mammals of Bhutan]]
[[Category:Mammals of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Mammals of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Mammals of Thailand]]
[[Category:Mammals of Laos]]
[[Category:Mammals of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Mammals of China]]
[[Category:Carnivorans of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Mammals of Indonesia]]

Asian golden cat - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 21:05, 30 August 2023