Details
Prionailurus viverrinus
Fishing cat is a medium-sized cat specialized for hunting around wetlands and streams. Wetland loss, fishing gear, and conflict with people threaten the species in many areas.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits wetlands, mangroves, river edges, and swamp forests of South and Southeast Asia. Main habitat types in this guide are freshwater, forest, coast.
Typical length 57-86 cm, weight 5 kg-16 kg. A stocky body, short tail, spotted coat, and strong feet suit waterside hunting.
It is nocturnal and usually solitary. It patrols waterside territories and ambushes prey from banks or shallows.
It is carnivorous. Fish are prominent, but frogs, crustaceans, birds, and small mammals are also taken.
Females rear kittens in cover, and young gradually learn waterside hunting.
Habitat loss and human pressure make conservation attention important. Wetland loss, fishing gear, and conflict with people threaten the species in many areas.
