Ecology and status of the Caracal,<i>Caracal caracal,</i>(Carnivora: Felidae), in the Abbasabad Naein Reserve, Iran

Farhadinia, Mohammad S.; Akbari, Hossein; Beheshti, Mohammad Taghi Hamidi; Sadeghi, Arash

doi:10.1080/09397140.2007.10638221

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…However, these species frequently diverge their use of shared resources, to reduce the effects of competition (Cáceres & Machado, 2013), through morphological (Bell, 1970; Hutchinson, 1959) or behavioural adaptations (Palomares & Caro, 1999). Common behavioural adaptations include spatial segregation, such as red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) avoidance of habitat used by lynx ( Lynx lynx ; Farhadinia, Akbari, Beheshti, & Sadeghi, 2007). In addition, larger carnivores such as lion ( Panthera leo ), wild dog ( Lycaon pictus ), and cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ) exhibit temporal segregation while foraging in Kruger (South Africa) and Serengeti National Parks (Tanzania), (Mills & Biggs, 1993; Swanson et al., 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal overlap of caracal and serval in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

2020

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Understanding activity and habitat use are important for identifying mechanisms facilitating species co‐occurrence. We studied habitat use and activity patterns of caracals (Caracal caracal) and servals (Leptailurus serval), primarily nocturnal, mid‐sized felids that prey extensively on small mammals and co‐occur in portions of sub‐Saharan Africa. Spatial and temporal patterns of segregation were investigated in a 1,085‐km2 area of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania from 2010–2012. We used occupancy analysis to quantify habitat use and kernel density estimators and Mardia–Watson–Wheleer tests to analyse activity patterns. We found evidence for habitat divergence but high temporal overlap between species. Servals selected for grassland and avoided shrubland and wooded grassland. In contrast, the findings showed that caracals avoided grassland and woodland–shrubland; however, 73% of caracals were detected in wooded grassland. Overall, caracals and servals co‐occurred independently, Species Interaction Factor, (phi = 1). This indicates that differential use of habitats in part facilitated coexistence of caracals and servals. Proper management of the declining grasslands including other habitats are recommended to facilitate continued coexistence. Additional studies, including feeding ecology, would be important to further understand mechanisms facilitating coexistence between caracals and servals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal overlap of caracal and serval in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

2020

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“…Parental investment in caracals plays a large role in greater reproductive behavior. The time a mother spends with her kits (and the combined lack of post partum estrus) restricts females to one litter per year (Farhadinia et al 2007;Karami et al 2008). Once the young are conceived, males play no role in their direct or indirect care; females invest a great deal of time and energy into their young and a tree cavity, cave, or abandoned burrow is often chosen for parturition and the first four weeks of postnatal development (O'Brien and Johnson, 2007).…”

Section: Parental Investmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the cat is so secretive and difficult to observe that its activity at daytime might easily go unnoticed and study in South Africa showed that caracals are most active when air temperature drops below 20 °C (68 °F); activity typically ceases at higher temperatures (Skinner and Chimimba, 2006). The solitary cat, the caracal mainly occurs alone or in pairs; the only group seen is of mothers with their offspring (Farhadinia et al 2007). Females in oestrus will temporarily pair with males (Avenant and Nel, 1998).…”

Section: Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A territorial animal, the caracal marks rocks and vegetation in its territory with urine and probably with dung, which is not covered with soil. Claw scratching is prominent, and dung middens are typically not formed (karami et al 2008;Farhadinia et al 2007). The conspicuous ear tufts and the facial markings often serve as a method of visual communication; caracals have been observed interacting with each other by moving the head from side to side so that the tufts flicker rapidly; like other cats, they produce sounds for communication meows, growls, hisses, spits and purrs (Estes, 2004).…”

Section: Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Estrus lasts 1-3 days, its cycle is 14 days and the estrus condition is absence of fertile copulations persists for 3-6 days; infanticide by males has been observed and this may be to induce ovulation in a female undergoing lactational amenorrhea (Bernard and Stuart, 1987;Kingdon, 2004). In captivity, gestation lasts 78-81 days and the litter size varies from one to six young, though three are most commonly produced (Farhadinia et al 2007;Karami, et al 2008;CITES, 2011;Stuart and Durk Stuart, 1985;Bernard and Stuart, 1987;Nowell and Jackson, 1996;Sunquist and Sunquist, 2014). Age of independence is 9-10 months and females can have their first pregnancy when 14-16 months old, while males are sexually mature when 12.5-15 months old (Bernard and Stuart, 1987).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Ecology of Caracals and Their Distribution in Africa: A Review Paper

2019

JBAH

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Caracals (Felis caracal, Schreber 1776) are medium-sized wild cats. They are placed in the family felidae and subfamily felinae. These species were first described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Felis caracal. Caracals occur in northern Africa, Asia and at least 36 sub-Saharan African countries, yet little has been published regarding their spatial ecology. Caracal occupies a wide variety of habitats, from semi-desert to relatively open savannah and scrubland to moist woodland and thicket, evergreen forest, montane grassland, and arid mountains. Its habitat is mostly arid areas and it has a key role in the control of rodent populations. They typically ranges up to 2,500 m and 3,000 m above sea level. The conservation status of caracal populations is not clear across most of the range, but the Asiatic population is threatened and listed in CITES Appendix I and all others as Appendix II. The main threats for the caracal are habitat loss and human conflict due to frequent livestock attacks. Lack of knowledge about the caracal and the unknown impacts of the conflict on its population may drive the species to an endangered situation. Possessing tremendous speed and agility, the caracal is a formidable predator capable of tackling prey two to three times larger than its size. Their long, powerful hind legs enable them to make incredible leaps up to three metres high and catch birds in flight by batting them from the air with its large paws. Similar to all other species in the family felidae, caracals are strict carnivores. Caracals are usually nocturnal, being active from dusk to dawn and early morning and resting during the day in dense vegetation or rock crevices. Caracals prey mainly on small-to medium-sized mammals, from small murids to antelope up to ~50 kg, but they will also feed upon birds, reptiles, invertebrates, fish, small-sized carnivores and some plant matter. Camouflage is a primary defence against predators. They are polygynandrous (promiscuous). Both sexes become sexually mature by the time they are a year old; production of gametes begins even earlier at seven to ten months, the earliest successful copulation occur around 14 to 15 months of age. These species are classified as problem animals in Africa and are commonly regarded as vermin because of occasional predation upon small stock. This negative perception has resulted in extensive persecution of caracals.

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A review of caracal and jungle cat diets across their geographical ranges during 1842–2021

Parchizadeh

Schooler

Adibi

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Co‐occurring carnivore species that are phylogenetically related or of similar size, morphology, and ecological needs often reduce competition by partitioning shared resources through temporal, spatial, and dietary niche segregation via behavioral adaptations. Caracals (Caracal caracal) and jungle cats (Felis chaus) co‐occur in portions of their geographical ranges and are expected to display resource segregation in these ranges. We compiled scat, stomach content, and prey remains found data from published and unpublished sources to summarize information on the diets of caracals and jungle cats across their geographical ranges during 1842–2021. We obtained 63 sources from 26 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in which caracal diet included 151 species while jungle cat diet included 61 species. We found that caracals and jungle cats did not exhibit dietary niche partitioning and had greater dietary similarities in areas of range overlap. We also found that caracals consumed more diverse prey species including prey with greater average body mass compared to jungle cats. Our results suggest that greater prey diversity in areas of range overlap, caracal predation on wide range of prey, and opportunistic feeding behavior that facilitates consumption of more diverse prey species compared to jungle cats, may facilitate co‐occurrence between these two felid species.

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Ecology and status of the Caracal,Caracal caracal,(Carnivora: Felidae), in the Abbasabad Naein Reserve, Iran

Cited by 13 publications

References 5 publications

Spatial and temporal overlap of caracal and serval in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Spatial and temporal overlap of caracal and serval in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Ecology of Caracals and Their Distribution in Africa: A Review Paper

A review of caracal and jungle cat diets across their geographical ranges during 1842–2021

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