Fishing Cat
The fishing cat is a cat with an average body shape. , with a head and body length of 65 to 85 cm, mainly distributed in Indochina, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sumatra and Java. It generally lives in shrublands in forest areas, reeds along rivers and evergreen forests on tropical coasts. . Their staple food is fish. They like to travel at night and are ferocious by nature, so they are not easy to domesticate. The equilibrium lifespan of wild fishing cats is 10 to 12 years.
1. Shape characteristics
The fishing cat has a strong body and rough body hair. , the coat color ranges from soot, yellowish gray, grayish brown to light yellowish brown, and the back is darker than the sides. The whole body is full of brown and black stripes and freckles, the abdomen is white, two collars are formed on the throat, and there are horizontal stripes on the chest. There are also semi-webbed webbings between the toes, which are suitable for movement in the water.
Fishing cats are slightly larger than domestic cats, and their tails are shorter, about half as long as their bodies. The body weight is about 5 kg. The head is wider, the muzzle is longer, the ears are small and round, the back of the ears is black, and there are obvious white spots in the middle. They are short and stocky, with short arms and legs. Their coats are grayish-yellow and full of vertical dark brown or black freckles. The fur on their abdomens is white and has freckles.
As for their excellent water resistance, some people believe that they wear partial webs between their toes to help them swim. However, later research found that The webbing between their toes is no more advanced than that of North American bobcats.
In addition, their claws cannot be fully retracted. There are webs between their claws and toes, so the claws are not fully wrapped, so the claws are always stretched forward, unlike most other cats. There are also semi-webbed webbings between the toes, which are suitable for movement in the water. With its thick fur, it can easily enter the water to catch prey.
2. Scope of distribution
They are mainly distributed in areas including southwest China Southeastern Asia, including India, mainly including IndiaNorthern China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries. Fishing cats are only produced in Taiwan in China and have won 2 to 3 skins, but it may be due to an error in the certification. Overseas, it is found in India, Indochina, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and Java in Indonesia.
3. Livelihood customs
Fishing cats resting in the forest area Bushes, reeds along rivers, swamps and evergreen forests on the coast of Geida are good at swimming, but they often move and rest on the ground and are not good at climbing. Fishing cats live in areas rich in freshwater resources such as rivers, streams, reed wetlands and mangrove wetlands below an altitude of 1,500 meters.
The alias of the fishing cat reflects that one of its main prey is fish, including about 10 species. It will slap the water with one paw to make the fish think that there are insects coming, so as to attract the fish. And then successfully ate them. When fishing cats catch fish, they crouch on riverside rocks or small cliffs. When small fish swim close, they suddenly grab them with their claws and throw the fish to the shore. The most powerful swimmer among cats, the fishing cat uses its tail to control its purpose. At the same time, it will also catch other aquatic organisms, including frogs, freshwater lobsters, crabs, crustaceans and molluscs, as well as continental organisms, including rodents, birds, calves, goats, dogs and the carcasses of large animals. .
In Pakistan, they were also seen jumping into the water to catch water birds. Even fishing cats in India eat grass.
When it comes to fishing cats, people may think that fishing cats mainly eat fish or mistakenly believe that only fishing cats eat fish. Fishing cats have a cruel nature and are brave enough to attack animals much larger than themselves. It is still capable of aggressive behavior after being domesticated by humans for several years.
Four. Growth
Fishing cats can grow all year round Growth is unprecedented in Northeast India. The growth period is from March to June in spring and summer, and the peak period isIt's March and May. Fishing cats build their nests in reeds. During the spring estrus mating, the gestation period of the female fishing cat is about 63 days, and she gives birth to 1 to 4 cubs at a time, often 2 cubs. The cubs can live alone after they are 10 months old. The eyes of the cubs are closed when they are born, and they open after about 16 months. They can leave the nest when they are more than one month old. They can eat solid food, such as meat, after 53 years old, but they will not be weaned until they are 4 to 6 months old. It grows rapidly. A small fishing cat reaches its adult size when it is 8 to 9 months old, and can survive on its own after 9 to 10 months. Fishing cats are solitary animals, but when raised artificially, it is known that male fishing cats will help small fishing cats catch food.
5. Near destruction
Because fishing cats are lazy in Southeast Asia The gradual shrinking of recreational wetlands and excessive fishing by humans have caused a sharp decline in the number of fishing cats, and its protection level has also been changed from vulnerable to endangered. The fishing cat has been exterminated in Afghanistan and has become extremely common in Malaysia and China, and the number in its current dispersal area has been greatly reduced. Other threats include water and chemical contamination, and hunting for their beautiful pelts or game. It is added to Appendix II of CITES.
There are 22 animal associations in North America that own caged fishing cats. As of December 2005, the number of fishing cats owned by all animal associations was 72. Except for Bhutan, Malaysia and Vietnam, other countries and regions in fishing cat habitats have adopted protective measures against them.
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