Iriomote Cat

Iriomote Cat Facts

• This marvelous wild feline is most frequently referred to by the descriptive and informative common name of Iriomote Cat. That’s simply the english language name for it, though. In the Japanese tongue, it’s known by the very similar moniker of Iriomote-yamaneko.
• In scientific circles, however, it’s perhaps much better known by its purely technical title. That term, though, is extremely hard for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because this beautiful creature bears the tongue-twisting formal title of Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis.
• The extremely intriguing animal received that formal moniker due to the efforts of the Japanese zoologist, Yoshinori Imaizuni. This respected researcher accomplished the first official recognition of the mammal as a specific subspecies of the better known Leopard Cat.
• The population of the remarkable Iriomote Cat, already extremely small, lamentably seems to be dwindling rapidly. That unfortunate trend also appears to hold true throughout the entirety of its natural range. Recent estimates place its population at only 100 individuals.
• The IUCN thus now lists this incredible creation of evolution as Critically Endangered. That unfortunate status is reflected on the organization’s published Red List of Threatened Species. Fears understandably exist that the creature may soon disappear from the earth completely.
• It faces many threats to its continued existence, in addition to its own limited numbers. Given its extremely limited natural range, habitat loss poses a proportionately higher danger than for some species. The animal also now faces the danger posed by ongoing climate change.

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Iriomote Cat Physical Description

The beautiful Iriomote Cat certainly catches the eye of anyone fortunate enough to encounter one of the marvels. It does so for several reasons, though. Its appearance remains intriguing, since it looks much like a common house cat. But its sheer size remains slightly greater than these.

Much like most felines, though, it does display a certain degree of the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism. In its case, this physiological characteristic manifests itself in terms of pure size. That’s true since males of the species attain slightly larger average phsyical measurements.

The males of the stunning species reach an average head-and-body length of roughly 22 – 24 in (55 – 60 cm). Their female counterparts, however, grow to an average of 20 – 22 in (50 – 55 cm). Among individuals of both genders, the tail attains a length from between 9.1 – 9.4 in (23 – 24 cm).

Accordingly, weights also differ comparatively moderately between the two sexes. Being smaller, the females typically weigh between 6.6 – 7.7 lb (3 – 3.5 kg). The longer-bodied males, though, generally have a mass equaling 7.7 – 10.0 lb (3.5 – 5 kg). So there’s not a notably significant difference.

The overall body shape of the captivating Iriomote Cat distinguishes it from most of its many kindred. It has a relatively long, thin body, with comparatively short, thick legs. The shoulders are powerful. It also presents a neck that’s thicker in relation to the rest of the body than most felines. 

In appearance, most specimens present a predominantly light brown and dark gray combination of colors. The stomach and underside of each limb, though, both show a somewhat lighter shade. Two dark brown spots also appear on each cheek, and 5-7 stripes running across the animal’s head.

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Felidae
• Genus: Prionailurus
• Species: P. bengalensis

Iriomote Cat Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Sadly, the delicate wonder of Nature and evolution that’s the Iriomote Cat evolved as native to a very limited habitat range. In fact, that zone of habitation ranks as the smallest endemic area of habitation of any known wildcat. It might surprise some to learn that it’s native to Asia.

Even there, though, the beautiful animal only lives within a very tiny geographical area. That appears in a portion of the country of Japan. Yet even there, the small mammal lives solely on a single remote island. That’s the tiny island of Iriomote, measuring just 112 sq mi (290 sq km) in total area.

Further limiting its opportunities for expansion is its extremely specific habitat requirements. The vast majority of known specimens presently live in one specific type of ecosystem. That consists of the regions of subtropical forests. That habitat does, at least, cover roughly 90% of the island.

Inside of that region, though, it also displays decidedly strong preferences for certain altitudes. The specifically evolved small mammal rarely appears at heights in excess of 656 ft (200 m) above sea level. The precise reason for this tendency, however, continues to elude its many researchers.

Unlike most related species around the world, the Iriomote Cat appears to be a primarily terrestrial type of wildcat. It does, however, climb trees, and even swim when necessary. The feline also evolved as nocturnal in nature, with the primary period of activity being during the twilight period.

During the day, the wildcat prefers to remain in local caves or occasionally hollow trees. As with most related species, it also marks its territory. It’s also entirely carnivorous in its eating habits. That diet primarily consists of small varieties of birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and crustaceans.

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