The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild cat of South and Southeast Asia. It has a deep yellowish-grey fur with black lines and spots. Adults have a head-to-body length of 57 to 78 cm (22 to 31 in), with a 20 to 30 cm (7.9 to 11.8 in) long tail. Males are larger than females weighing 8 to 17 kg (18 to 37 lb); females average 5 to 9 kg (11 to 20 lb). Since 2016, it is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Fishing cat populations are threatened by destruction of wetlands and have declined severely over the last decade. The fishing cat lives foremost in the vicinity of wetlands, along rivers, streams, oxbow lakes, in swamps, and mangroves.
The fishing cat's main prey is fish. Other prey items include birds, insects, small rodents; molluscs, reptiles including snakes, amphibians and carrion of domestic cattle. The fishing cat is thought to be primarily nocturnal. It is a good swimmer and can swim long distances, even under water. The species is the state animal of West Bengal. As of 2015, there are estimated to be 10,000 living individuals.
Felis viverrinus was proposed by Edward Turner Bennett in 1833 who described a cat skin sent from India by Josiah Marshall Heath.[2]Prionailurus was proposed by Nikolai Severtzov in 1858 as generic name for spotted wild cats native to Asia.[3]Felis viverrinus rhizophoreus was proposed by Henri Jacob Victor Sody in 1936 who described a specimen from the north coast of West Java that had a slightly shorter skull than fishing cat specimens from Thailand.[4] There is evidence that the nominate taxon and the Javan fishing cat are distinguishable by skull morphometrics.[5]
The fishing cat has a deep yellowish-grey fur with black lines and spots. Two stripes are on the cheeks, and two above the eyes running to the neck with broken lines on the forehead. It has two rows of spots around the throat. The spots on the shoulder are longitudinal, and those on the sides, limbs and tail are roundish.[2] The background colour of its fur varies between individuals from yellowish tawny to ashy grey, and the size of the stripes from narrow to broad. The fur on the belly is lighter than on the back and sides. The short and rounded ears are set low on the head, and the back of the ears bear a white spot. The tail is short, less than half the length of head and body, and with a few black rings at the end.[9] As an aquatic adaptation, the fur is layered. A short, dense layer provides a water barrier and thermal insulation, while another layer of protruding long guard hairs provides its pattern and glossy sheen.[10]
The fishing cat is the largest cat of the Prionailurus.[9] It is about twice the size of a domestic cat and stocky and muscular with medium to short legs. Its head-to-body length ranges from 57 to 78 cm (22 to 31 in), with a tail of 20 to 30 cm (7.9 to 11.8 in). Female fishing cats range in weight from 5 to 9 kg (11 to 20 lb), and males from 8 to 17 kg (18 to 37 lb), evidencing quite pronounced sexual dimorphism in size for a cat of this size.[11][12] Its skull is elongated, with a basal length of 123–153 mm (4.8–6.0 in) and a post-orbital width of 27–31 mm (1.1–1.2 in).[9]
Its paws are less completely webbed than those of the leopard cat, and the claws are incompletely sheathed so that they protrude slightly when retracted.[9][13] Webbed feet have often been noted as a characteristic of the fishing cat, but the webbing beneath the toes is not much more developed than that of a bobcat.[14]
The fishing cat is broadly but discontinuously distributed in South and Southeast Asia.[1]
It is strongly associated with wetlands, inhabiting swamps and marshy areas around oxbow lakes, reed beds, tidal creeks and mangrove forests; it seems less abundant around smaller, fast-moving watercourses. Most records are from lowland areas.[15]
Reports in Bangladeshi newspapers indicate that fishing cats live in all divisions of Bangladesh but are severely threatened; villagers killed at least 30 fishing cats between January 2010 and March 2013.[28] In Sri Lanka, it has been recorded in multiple localities ranging from coastal to hilly regions.[1] In Myanmar, it was recorded in the Ayeyarwady Delta in 2016 and 2018.[29]
In Cambodia, a single fishing cat was photographed by a camera trap in Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary in March 2003.[33] In 2008, a fishing cat kitten was found in Botum-Sakor National Park.[34] In 2015, it was also recorded in Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary.[35] The island of Java constitutes the southern limit of the fishing cat's range, but by the 1990s fishing cats were scarce and apparently restricted to tidal forests with sandy or muddy shores, older mangrove stands, and abandoned mangrove plantation areas with fishponds.[36] There are no confirmed records in Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam and Laos.[37]
The fishing cat is thought to be primarily nocturnal, and is very much at home near water. It can swim long distances, even under water. Adult males and females without dependent young are solitary. Females have been reported to range over areas of 4 to 6 km2 (1.5 to 2.3 sq mi), while males range over 16 to 22 km2 (6.2 to 8.5 sq mi). Adults have been observed to make a "chuckling" sound.[11]
The fishing cat's main prey is fish; scat collected in India's Keoladeo National Park revealed that fish comprises about three-quarters of its diet, with the remainder consisting of birds, insects, small rodents; molluscs, reptiles including snakes, amphibians and carrion of domestic cattle supplement its diet.[38] In the Godavari River delta, fish comprised three fifths of the fishing cat diet, whereas rodents and crustaceans made up the reminder of the diet. The diet make-up remained relatively constant throughout the year.[39]
Fishing cats have been observed while hunting along the edges of watercourses, grabbing prey from the water, and sometimes diving into the water to catch prey further from the banks.[40] It prefers hunting in shallow water and spends about half the time lying in wait for prey to approach.[41]
Wild fishing cats most likely mate during January and February; most kittens in the wild were observed in March and April.[11] However, fishing cats may mate as late as June.[15] In captivity, the gestation period lasts 63–70 days; females give birth to an average of two to three kittens; the litter size can be as small as one to as large as four.[42][15] The generation length of the species is 5 years.[1] They weigh around 170 g (6.0 oz) at birth, and are able to actively move around by the age of one month. They begin to play in water and to take solid food when about two months old, but are not fully weaned until six months old. They reach full adult size when about eight and a half months old, acquire their adult canine teeth by 11 months, and are sexually mature when approximately 15 months old. They live up to 10 years in captivity.[11]
The fishing cat is threatened by destruction of wetlands, which are increasingly being polluted or converted for agricultural use and human settlements. The conversion of mangrove forests to commercial aquaculture ponds is a major threat in Andhra Pradesh, where the target killing of fishing cats is also prevalent where there is human/animal conflict. Over-exploitation of local fish stocks and retaliatory killing are also significant threats.[1][49]
Fish farmers in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, may also view fishing cats as pests, as they regularly take fish from farms, resulting in farmers killing them in retaliation.[49] In Bangladesh, fishing cats are often confused for tiger cubs, and are killed whenever they come into contact with humans.[50] They are also hunted for their meat, which is used for traditional causes. In one instance, between 2012 and 2015, poachers were arrested after slaying 31% of radio-collared animals in Thailand.[1] Skin may also be traded, though this is not yet confirmed.[51] Its habitat in India is primarily marshlands, thus, highly subjective to agricultural use under the country's law, which leads to human–wildlife conflict. In Sagar Island, the natives there allegedly wiped out the fishing cat population. Deaths in the Indian subcontinent more often than not took place in the dry season, when paths with humans often cross.[1] In West Bengal's Howrah district, 27 dead fishing cats were recorded between April 2010 and May 2011.[21] In Bangladesh, at least 30 fishing cats were killed by local people in three years between January 2010 and March 2013.[28] Furthermore, in a study in Thailand, 84% of all fishing cats that were tracked via radio collars were killed – either due to poaching or unknown causes.[1] Crashes with vehicles is another major mortality factor.[23]
In Southeast Asia, wetlands are strongholds for the fishing cat population. However, estimates predict that only 6% of wetlands remain unthreatened by human activities. A 2015 study stated that the fishing cat population is likely lower than 10,000.[28] The fishing cat is possibly extinct in coastal Kerala, India.[52]
Prionailurus viverrinus is included on CITES Appendix II, and protected by national legislation over most of its range. Hunting is prohibited in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand. Hunting regulations apply in Lao PDR. In Bhutan and Vietnam, the species is not protected outside protected areas.[15]
Its survival depends on protection of wetlands, prevention of indiscriminate trapping, snaring and poisoning.[1] The species is the state animal of the Indian state of West Bengal.[53]
In areas where habitat degradation is a major concern, such as coastal Andhra Pradesh, NGOs are working to slow habitat conversion in collaboration with local villagers. Part of this work involves creating alternative livelihood programs that allow villagers to earn money without damaging natural habitats.[54][55] A Fishing Cat Conservation Alliance provides an umbrella for the cooperation of national fishing cat conservation groups, which began with the establishment of India's in 2010.[53]
^Sody, H. J. V. (1936). "Seventeen generic, specific and subspecific names for Dutch East Indian mammals". Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch Indië. 96: 42−55.
^ abWerdelin, L.; Yamaguchi, N.; Johnson, W. E. & O'Brien, S. J. (2010). "Phylogeny and evolution of cats (Felidae)". In Macdonald, D. W. & Loveridge, A. J. (eds.). Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. pp. 59–82. ISBN978-0-19-923445-5. Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
^ abcdPocock, R. I. (1939). "Prionailurus viverrinus". The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Vol. 1. Mammalia. London: Taylor and Francis, Ltd. pp. 281–284.
^"Fishing Cat". The International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada. 21 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
^Sadhu, A. & Reddy, G. V. (2013). "First evidence of Fishing Cat in the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India". Cat News (58): 36–37.
^Prerna, S.; Raj, B.; Sharma, V.; Seshamani, G. & Satayanarayan, K. (2016). "First record of Fishing Cat in Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Agra, India". Cat News (63): 19–20.
^Das, S. K.; Saha, R.; Mukherjee, S.; Danda, A. A. & Borah, J. (2017). "First estimates of fishing cat abundance and density in Lothian WS, Sundarbans, India". Cat News (66): 25−27.
^ abPalei, S.H.; Das, P.U.; Debata, S. (2018). "The vulnerable fishing cat Prionailurus viverrinus in Odisha, eastern India: status and conservation implications". Zoology and Ecology. 28 (2): 69–74. Bibcode:2018ZooEc..28...69S. doi:10.1080/21658005.2018.1468646.
^Malla, G. (2016). "Ecology and conservation of Fishing Cat in Godavari mangroves of Andhra Pradesh"(PDF). In A. Appel; J. W. Duckworth (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium, 25–29 November 2015, Nepal. Bad Marienberg, Germany and Saltford, Bristol, United Kingdom: Fishing Cat Working Group. pp. 48–50. Archived from the original(PDF) on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
^Kantimahanti, M. (2016). "Community-based Fishing Cat conservation in the Eastern Ghats of South India"(PDF). In A. Appel; J. W. Duckworth (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium, 25–29 November 2015, Nepal. Bad Marienberg, Germany and Saltford, Bristol, United Kingdom: Fishing Cat Working Group. pp. 51–54. Archived from the original(PDF) on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
^ abcChowdhury, S. U.; Chowdhury, A. R.; Ahmed S. & Muzaffar, S. B. (2015). "Human-fishing cat conflicts and conservation needs of fishing cats in Bangladesh". Cat News (62): 4–7.
^Thaung R. & Herranz Muñoz, V. (2016). "Identifying priority sites and conservation actions for Fishing Cat in Cambodia"(PDF). In A. Appel & J. W. Duckworth (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Fishing Cat Conservation Symposium, 25–29 November 2015, Nepal. Bad Marienberg, Germany and Saltford, Bristol, United Kingdom: Fishing Cat Working Group. pp. 37–40. Archived from the original(PDF) on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
^Malla, G.; Ray, P.; Srinivas, Y.; Malla, S.; Reddy, T.B.; Hayward, M.; Sivakumar, K. (2024). "Fish on the platter! Dietary habits of fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) in the Godavari Delta, India". Mammal Research. 69 (2): 221–230. doi:10.1007/s13364-023-00731-0.
^Mukherjee, S. (1989). Ecological separation of four sympatric carnivores in Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India (MSc. Thesis). Dehra Dun: Wildlife Institute of India.
^Ganguly, D.; Adhya, T. (2022). "How fishing cats Prionailurus viverrinus Bennett, 1833 fish: describing a felid's strategy to hunt aquatic prey". Mammalia. 86 (2): 182–189. doi:10.1515/mammalia-2020-0133.
^Kik, M.J.L.; van der Hage, M.H.; Greydanus-van der Putten, S.W.M. (1997). "Chlamydiosis in a Fishing Cat (Felis viverrina)". Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 28 (2): 212–214. JSTOR20095645. PMID9279414.
^Suksai, P.; Tangsudjai, S.; Sariya, L.; Chamsai, T.; Sedwisai, P.; Patumrattanathan, S.; Prasittichai, L.; Cutter, P.; Ratanakorn, P.; Sangkachai, N. (2016). "Molecular study of feline hemoplasmas in free- ranging fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) in Thailand". The Japanese Journal of Veterinary Research. 64 (3): 205–213. PMID29786992.