Golden cat
Golden cats are medium-sized, wild cats found in the rainforests of Africa and Asia . Historically, all golden cats were placed in the genus Profelis . According to more recent knowledge, however, the similarities are purely external; African and Asian golden cats are by no means closely related. Therefore, three species from two genera are considered golden cats and the group is not monophyletic .
The following species are known as golden cats:
- Genus Caracal
- African golden cat ( Caracal aurata )
- Genus Catopuma
- Asiatic golden cat ( Catopuma temmincki )
- Borneo golden cat ( Catopuma badia )
Historically, the marble cat ( Pardofelis marmorata ) was not classified under the golden cat taxon . Today, however, their close relationship to the Borneo golden cat and the Asian golden cat is certain. All golden cats and marble cats are protected according to the Washington Convention on the Protection of Species Appendix I or II. International controls agreed in this way are intended to prevent the species from being endangered by commercial trade. Additional protection, for example against non-commercial hunting, exists through varying state laws, but poachers and habitat loss through deforestation pose problems for species protection .
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .