African golden cat
- The African golden cat lives in moist tropical forests of equatorial Africa, including mangrove and bamboo forests, but also occurs in dry forests, riparian thickets, and clearings. It is able to adapt to landscape changes.
- Male African golden cats weigh on average 11–14 kg, while the only weighed female weighed 6.2 kg. The mass of males significantly exceeds that of females.
- The African golden cat is genetically close to the caracal and serval. All three species descended from a common ancestor about 5.4 million years ago.
- Nocturnal or crepuscular.
- Litters contain 1–2 young.
- Climbs excellently.
- Feeds on small mammals and birds.
- Has a long tail.
- Status Vulnerable.
Age
The African golden cat has a typical lifespan of 7 to 15 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 21 years, and a theoretical lifespan ranging from 10 years and 6 months to 21 years; the age of sexual maturity is from 1 to 2 years. The young’s eyes open between 1 and 2 weeks of age, and they begin to walk between 2 weeks and 4 days and 4 weeks. The embryo develops inside the mother, followed by the kitten stage, during which the young lives with its mother and feeds on milk for a duration of 1 day to 6 months. The adult stage begins at 2 years and lasts up to 15 years, when the species is capable of hunting and reproducing.
Phenotype
The African golden cat has soft fur with indistinct spots to provide protection for the young. Adult African golden cats possess dense, short fur that is golden or reddish-brown in color, aiding camouflage among leaves. The species has retractable sharp claws used for catching prey and climbing trees. An adult possesses a long tail, which helps maintain balance during hunting and climbing.
Physiology
The African golden cat exhibits considerable variation in physical dimensions; body height ranges from 17.8 centimeters to 3.5 meters, and body length varies from 61 centimeters to 0.95 meters. The species' mass is between 8.67 and 10.8 kilograms, although the embryonic stage has a body mass of 1 to 150 grams. During the juvenile stage, the young have a body mass of 150 grams to 2.5 kilograms and a body length of 15 to 45 centimeters. Adult African golden cats weigh from 8 to 16 kilograms and measure between 70 centimeters and 0.95 meters in length.
Habitat
The African golden cat occupies habitats ranging in elevation up to 2.5 kilometers; the species lives on land and in forested areas. It is found in tropical dry forests, characterized by heat and a dry season with deciduous trees, as well as in tropical moist forests that are consistently hot and humid with large trees and vines. The animal also inhabits tropical savannas, which are hot environments with uneven rainfall and abundant grass and trees. Climates vary; winters have little precipitation while summers experience more rain, or the climate is hot with little winter precipitation and summer rains, or it is consistently hot and wet with nearly daily rainfall, or always hot with frequent rains but occasional dry periods, or perpetually very wet with almost constant rainfall and high humidity.
Shelter
The African golden cat shelters in tree hollows, caves, or dense thickets, utilizing dens for reproduction, rest, and protection from the sun.
Geography
The African golden cat occupies the Afrotropical realm and is found in several ecosystems, including the South Congolian forest-savanna, the West Congolian forest-savanna, the lowland forests of central Congo, the lowland forests of northeastern Congo, the forests of the Eastern Arc, and coastal forests and woodlands of southern Swahili.
Feeding
The African golden cat is a carnivorous species that hunts rodents, birds, small antelopes, and monkeys, employing an ambush hunting strategy to stalk prey before a swift attack. Its diet consists of rodents, birds, dassies, small antelopes, monkeys, large mammals, and small mammals, including forest duikers, bushbabies, grivets, monkeys, and helmeted guineafowl. The species actively hunts from ambush, with daily food requirements ranging from 250 grams to 0.55 kilograms. Young African golden cats feed exclusively on milk. It is noted that in some cultures the animal is consumed, but it is not considered halal or kosher.
Reproduction
The African golden cat inhabits terrestrial environments and develops on land, away from bodies of water; its young develop in nests built on or near the ground, sometimes directly on the surface of the ground. Gestation lasts 2 months and 3 weeks, and the female carries the offspring for about 75 days, giving birth to them in a shelter. A litter has 1–2 young, and usually one or two kittens are born. The mother feeds and protects the young for several months. The species reproduces through live birth; the young are born alive on land, not hatching from eggs or larvae. The female reaches maturity from 1 year 6 months to 2 years, and the interval between reproduction periods is from 1 to 1 year 6 months. Nests can be located inside tree cavities or in caves/crevices; only the mother displays parental care for the offspring.