Marbled Cat

Marbled Cat (Felis marmorata)

Family: FELIDAE
All the Bornean wild cat species are basically similar to the domestic cat in body form and have 28-30 teeth. They are distinguished mainly by size, tail length and coloration. All cats have four toes on the hind feet and five on the front feet, but the inner front toe is small and leaves no impression on the ground. The claws are retractile, and do not appear in footprints. There is no definite evidence that either the Tiger, Panthera tigris, or the Leopard, Panthera pardus, occur in Borneo.

Measurements: HB 465-490, T 480-495, HF 118-122, Wt 2425-2492 kg (2 specimens).

Identification: Brownish with black markings, similar in pattern to the Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, but black-edged blotches on sides of body less distinct and black spots on legs more numerous. Fur soft and thick.

Similar species: the Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, is much larger.

Ecology and Habitat: Nocturnal. Arboreal and terrestrial. Diet includes rats. Occurs in tall and secondary forests.

Distribution: Borneo - F.m. marmorata. Recorded from Kuching and Miri in Sarawak.