Spatial organization and diet of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in north-central Thailand

The leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis is a relatively common, small felid ranging throughout Asia. During the past 15 years the natural history of leopard cats has been the topic of five studies; however, the mean sample size of study animals has been low ($ \bar{x}$ = 6.8, range 4–10). We report...

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Veröffentlicht in:Journal of zoology (1987) 2005-05, Vol.266 (1), p.45-54
Hauptverfasser: Grassman, Lon I., Tewes, Michael E., Silvy, Nova J., Kreetiyutanont, Kitti
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:The leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis is a relatively common, small felid ranging throughout Asia. During the past 15 years the natural history of leopard cats has been the topic of five studies; however, the mean sample size of study animals has been low ($ \bar{x}$ = 6.8, range 4–10). We report on the most comprehensive study of leopard cats to date. Between June 1999 and February 2003, 20 leopard cats (14 males and six females) were radio-collared and tracked from 3 to 20 months in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Spatial organization of the leopard cats was characterized as weakly territorial with similar intrasexual range sizes and minimal seasonal variation. Mean (± SD) annual home-range (95% minimum convex polygon) size for males was 12.4 km2 (n = 1211 locations, ± 7.1, range 2.2–28.9), whereas females exhibited a mean home-range size of 14 km2 (n = 470, ± 12.2, range 4.4–37.1). Core area (50% minimum convex polygon) averaged 2.0 km2, and the mean 1-day movement was 1298 m (± 981, range 35–8653). Habitat use was generally in proportion to occurrence, and the mean activity (52%) was arrhythmic with crepuscular and nocturnal peaks. Analysis of scats indicated that murids dominated leopard cat diet.
ISSN:0952-8369
1469-7998
DOI:10.1017/S095283690500659X