Does polymorphism make the Asiatic golden cat the most adaptable predator in the Eastern Himalayas?

Nijhawan, Sahil; Mitapo, Iho; Pulu, Jibi; Carbone, Chris; Rowcliffe, J. Marcus

doi:10.1002/ecy.2768

Cited by 12 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…For example, only one study has determined the home range size of Asian golden cats (Grassman et al 2005a). The density of Asian golden cats has never been determined, probably because this species typically lacks unique identification marks, although some populations exhibit polymorphism with individuals that have unique marks (Nijhawan et al 2019). Several camera-trap studies have investigated its activity pattern, and concluded this species is arrhythmic or mostly diurnal (Grassman et al 2005a;Haidir et al 2018;Johnson et al 2009;Lynam et al 2013;McCarthy et al 2015b;Mukherjee et al 2019;Rasphone et al in press;Ridout and Linkie 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

Diet, prey selection, and activity of Asian golden cats and leopard cats in northern Laos

Kamler

Inthapanya

Rasphone

et al. 2020

Journal of Mammalogy

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The Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) occurs in small, declining, and highly fragmented populations throughout Southeast Asia, whereas the smaller leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is common and widespread. In contrast to leopard cats, little is known about the ecology of Asian golden cats, and resource partitioning between these species has not been studied. We used DNA-confirmed scats, camera-trap data, and prey surveys, to determine the diet, prey selection, and activity, of Asian golden cats and leopard cats in a protected area in northern Laos. The two felids had different diets: Asian golden cats consumed mostly ungulates (35% biomass consumed), murid rodents (23%), and carnivores (15%), whereas leopard cats consumed mostly murid rodents (79%). Asian golden cats were not random in their consumption of ungulates, because muntjac (Muntiacus spp.) were selectively consumed over larger ungulates, indicating muntjac were preyed upon rather than scavenged. Dietary overlap between the two felid species was moderate (R0 = 0.60), and the dietary niche breadth of Asian golden cats (B = 8.44) was nearly twice as high as that of leopard cats (4.54). The mean (± SD) scat diameter was greater for Asian golden cats (2.1 ± 0.3 cm) than leopard cats (1.8 ± 0.2 cm), although diameters of leopard cat scats were considerably larger than previously assumed for this species. The felid species differed in their activity patterns, because Asian golden cats were diurnal, whereas leopard cats were nocturnal, although they did not differ in their use of elevation, suggesting there was no habitat segregation. Overall, leopard cats appeared to coexist with Asian golden cats, a potential predator and competitor, by exhibiting dietary and temporal partitioning. Our results showed that muntjac were important prey of Asian golden cats, suggesting the management of muntjac might be important for conserving populations of Asian golden cats.

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Diet, prey selection, and activity of Asian golden cats and leopard cats in northern Laos

Kamler

Inthapanya

Rasphone

et al. 2020

Journal of Mammalogy

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“…Gumal et al (2014) reported records farther south in the Endau Rompin Landscape, both inside and outside Endau Rompin National Park. In the Himalaya, the Asiatic Golden Cat has also frequently been recorded outside protected areas (Jigme 2011;Vernes et al 2015;Dhendup & Dorji 2018;Joshi et al 2019;Nijhawan et al 2019;Rai et al 2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

A camera trap record of Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in State Land Forest, Merapoh, Pahang, Malaysia

et al. 2021

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The Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii is poorly studied in Peninsular Malaysia. We deployed 12 camera traps to assess the wildlife diversity in the unprotected State Land Forest of Merapoh, Pahang State. During the period from August to October 2019, one Asiatic Golden Cat was photographed at a single camera trap station. This record outside the protected area network emphasizes the importance of wildlife corridors. This State Land Forest is located between Forest Reserve and Taman Negara National Park. Therefore, appropriate conservation measures must be taken in order to maintain this site as a wildlife corridor.

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“…A study of the distribution of two colour phenotypes in the jaguarundi across the Neotropics showed that reddish variants were more common in xeric open habitats, whereas grey/dark variants were associated with moist forested areas (Silva et al 2016). In the Asiatic golden cat, a link between coat types and specific environments along an altitudinal gradient was observed at a very local scale within Dibang Valley in the Eastern Himalayas (Nijhawan et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Polymorphism of coat colour patterns occurs not only between various species, but also within several species of felids, including the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii; Nijhawan et al 2019), African golden cat (Caracal aurata;Bahaa-el-din et al 2014), jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi; Silva et al 2016), pampas cat (Leopardus colocola; Garcia-Perea 1994), and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx; Kubala et al 2020). A study of the distribution of two colour phenotypes in the jaguarundi across the Neotropics showed that reddish variants were more common in xeric open habitats, whereas grey/dark variants were associated with moist forested areas (Silva et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coat Polymorphism in Eurasian Lynx: Adaptation to Environment or Phylogeographic Legacy?

Darul

Gavashelishvili

Saveljev³

et al. 2021

J Mammal Evol

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We studied the relationship between the variability and contemporary distribution of pelage phenotypes in one of most widely distributed felid species and an array of environmental and demographic conditions. We collected 672 photographic georeferenced records of the Eurasian lynx throughout Eurasia. We assigned each lynx coat to one of five phenotypes. Then we fitted the coat patterns to different environmental and anthropogenic variables, as well as the effective geographic distances from inferred glacial refugia. A majority of lynx were either of the large spotted (41.5%) or unspotted (uniform, 36.2%) phenotype. The remaining patterns (rosettes, small spots and pseudo-rosettes) were represented in 11.0%, 7.4%, and 3.9% of samples, respectively. Although various environmental variables greatly affected lynx distribution and habitat suitability, it was the effect of least-cost distances from locations of the inferred refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum that explained the distribution of lynx coat patterns the best. Whereas the occurrence of lynx phenotypes with large spots was explained by the proximity to refugia located in the Caucasus/Middle East, the uniform phenotype was associated with refugia in the Far East and Central Asia. Despite the widely accepted hypothesis of adaptive functionality of coat patterns in mammals and exceptionally high phenotypic polymorphism in Eurasian lynx, we did not find well-defined signs of habitat matching in the coat pattern of this species. Instead, we showed how the global patterns of morphological variability in this large mammal and its environmental adaptations may have been shaped by past climatic change.

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Does polymorphism make the Asiatic golden cat the most adaptable predator in the Eastern Himalayas?

Cited by 12 publications

References 12 publications

Diet, prey selection, and activity of Asian golden cats and leopard cats in northern Laos

Diet, prey selection, and activity of Asian golden cats and leopard cats in northern Laos

A camera trap record of Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in State Land Forest, Merapoh, Pahang, Malaysia

Coat Polymorphism in Eurasian Lynx: Adaptation to Environment or Phylogeographic Legacy?

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