Jungle Cat Research Articles

Small carnivores of Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, India

During the present study in Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRT), nine species of small carnivores viz., Jungle Cat Felis chaus, Rusty-spotted Cat Prionalilurus rubiginosus, Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis, Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica, Asian Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Striped-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitticollis, Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii, Common Mongoose Herpestes edwardsii and Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, were recorded using camera-trapping technique, transect walks, and night surveys. Vegetation type strongly influences the presence and abundance of each species. The most sightings of small carnivores occurred in dry deciduous forests. Among all the species, the Asian Palm Civet was the most abundant and was followed by the small Indian Civet. Compared to many other forests or regions in India, the sight records of the Rusty-spotted Cat were relatively higher in BRT. Although we were unable to use statistical methods to search for higher levels of interdependencies between forest types and small carnivore abundance, our study sheds light on patterns of small carnivore distribution in this unique habitat which bridges the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.

Who's behind that mask and cape? The Asian leopard cat's Agouti (ASIP) allele likely affects coat colour phenotype in the Bengal cat breed.

Coat colours and patterns are highly variable in cats and are determined mainly by several genes with Mendelian inheritance. A 2-bp deletion in agouti signalling protein (ASIP) is associated with melanism in domestic cats. Bengal cats are hybrids between domestic cats and Asian leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis), and the charcoal coat colouration/pattern in Bengals presents as a possible incomplete melanism. The complete coding region of ASIP was directly sequenced in Asian leopard, domestic and Bengal cats. Twenty-seven variants were identified between domestic and leopard cats and were investigated in Bengals and Savannahs, a hybrid with servals (Leptailurus serval). The leopard cat ASIP haplotype was distinguished from domestic cat by four synonymous and four non-synonymous exonic SNPs, as well as 19 intronic variants, including a 42-bp deletion in intron 4. Fifty-six of 64 reported charcoal cats were compound heterozygotes at ASIP, with leopard cat agouti (APbe) and domestic cat non-agouti (a) haplotypes. Twenty-four Bengals had an additional unique haplotype (A2) for exon 2 that was not identified in leopard cats, servals or jungle cats (Felis chaus). The compound heterozygote state suggests the leopard cat allele, in combination with the recessive non-agouti allele, influences Bengal markings, producing a darker, yet not completely melanistic coat. This is the first validation of a leopard cat allele segregating in the Bengal breed and likely affecting their overall pelage phenotype. Genetic testing services need to be aware of the possible segregation of wild felid alleles in all assays performed on hybrid cats.

Estimating seasonal abundance and habitat use of small carnivores in the Western Ghats using an occupancy approach

Abstract:Rigorous population studies on many small carnivores are lacking in India. Presence-absence models with habitat covariates were applied to estimate seasonal occupancy and abundance of nine small-carnivore species from camera-trap data in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (2010 and 2011). We deployed 25 camera-trap stations in the deciduous forest, 21 in the semi-evergreen forest and 26 in the dry thorn forest. In total, 7380 trap-nights yielded 448 photographs of small carnivores: jungle cat (n = 72), leopard cat (n = 6), rusty-spotted cat (n = 11), small Indian civet (n = 89), common palm civet (n = 37), brown palm civet (n = 20), stripe-necked mongoose (n = 66), ruddy mongoose (n = 96) and Indian grey mongoose (n = 51). In the dry season, rusty-spotted cat was the rarest carnivore with an average abundance (λmean) of 0.24 ± 0.26, while ruddy mongoose was the most abundant (λmean = 0.90 ± 0.40). In the wet season, leopard cat was the rarest species (λmean = 0.048 ± 0.041) while grey mongoose was the most abundant (λmean = 0.68 ± 0.35). Abundance of jungle cat, common palm civet, ruddy mongoose and grey mongoose increased in the dry thorn forest whereas in the dry season abundance of small Indian civet decreased in this forest type. Abundance of leopard cat and small Indian civet was not influenced by habitat in the wet season. Deciduous forest was positively associated with abundance of rusty-spotted cat. Deciduous and semi-evergreen forests had a positive effect on abundance of stripe-necked mongoose while the latter was a positive predictor of abundance and occupancy for brown palm civet. Improved modelling approaches can account for the spatio-temporal variation in habitat use of small carnivores occupying specialized niches in heterogeneous tropical forests of southern India.

More evidence for cat taming at the Predynastic elite cemetery of Hierakonpolis (Upper Egypt)

Continued excavations at the Predynastic elite cemetery HK6 at Hierakonpolis have yielded new evidence for the cultural control of cats during the Naqada IC-IIB period (c. 3800–3600 BC). In the same burial ground where evidence was previously found for the keeping of jungle cat (Felis chaus), a small pit was discovered containing six cats. The animals that were buried simultaneously, are a male and a female, and four kittens belonging to two different litters. The long bone measurements of the adult individuals clearly fall in the range of Felis silvestris and outside those of F. chaus and F. margarita. Comparison of the measurements – through the log-ratio technique – with data from the literature, as well as morphological characteristics of the mandible, suggest that the animals are domestic. It is argued that these results should be used with caution, since the criteria established to distinguish wild and domestic cat in European sites may reflect differences at the subspecies level (wild Felis silvestris silvestris versus the domestic form derived from Felis silvestris lybica). In northern Africa only F. s. lybica (wild or domestic) occurs, thus the established criteria may not be adequate when applied to Egyptian material. However, possible circumstantial evidence for the cultural control of the cats buried at Hierakonpolis is provided by their ages at death which indicate a deviation from the birth pattern reported in Egyptian wild cats.

Current Status of Mammals and Reptiles at Hub Dam Area, Sindh / Balochistan, Pakistan

During the present study in 2012, a total of twenty four mammalian species were recorded belonging to 5 orders and 10 families; out of these, 8 species are less common, 2 species are rare, while 14 species are common in Hub Dam area. Twenty five reptilian species belonging to 3 orders and 12 families were also recorded from the area. Three species of mammalian Urial (Ovis vignei), Chinkara/Indian Gazelle (Gazella bennettii) and Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), one reptilian species Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus) were recorded as rare from the study area during 2012. During the present study, nine mammalian species Wild Goat/Sindh Ibex (Capra aegagrus), Urial (Ovis vignei), Chinkara/Indian Gazelle (Gazella bennettii), Indian Hedgehog (Paraechinus micropus), Cape Hare (Lepus capensis), Little Indian Field Mouse (Mus booduga), House Shrew (Sorex thibetanus), Balochistan Gerbil (Gerbillus nanus) and Indian Gerbil (Tatera indica) and two reptilian Warty Rock Gecko (Cyrtodactylus kachhensis kachhensis) and Banded Dwarf Gecko (Tropiocolotes helenae) were recorded from the area. As regards threats to mammals and reptiles, these are affected by disturbance. Efforts are being made to conserve the important mammals and reptiles particularly in the protected area especially at Hub Dam.

Butterfly Species Richness and Diversity in the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in South Asia

Several wildlife sanctuaries in the world are home to the surviving populations of many endemic species. Trishna wildlife sanctuary in northeast India is protected by law, and is home to the last surviving populations of Asian bison (Bos gorus Smith), spectacle monkey (Trachypithecus phayrie Blyth), capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus Blyth), slow loris (Nycticebus coucang Boddaert), wild cat (Felis chaus Schreber), and wild boars (Sus scrofa L.), among many other animals and plants. The sanctuary was explored for species richness and diversity of butterflies. A six-month-long study revealed the occurrence of 59 butterfly species that included 21 unique species and 9 species listed in the threatened category. The mixed moist deciduous mature forest of the sanctuary harbored greater species richness and species diversity (39 species under 31 genera) than other parts of the sanctuary, which is comprised of regenerated secondary mixed deciduous forest (37 species under 32 genera), degraded forests (32 species under 28 genera), and open grassland with patches of plantations and artificial lakes (24 species under 17 genera). The majority of these species showed a distribution range throughout the Indo-Malayan region and Australasia tropics, and eight species were distributed in the eastern parts of South Asia, including one species, Labadea martha (F.), which is distributed in the eastern Himalayas alone. Estimator Chao 2 provided the best-predicted value of species richness. The steep slope of the species accumulation curve suggested the occurrence of a large number of rare species, and a prolonged gentle slope suggested a higher species richness at a higher sample abundance. The species composition of vegetation-rich habitats showed high similarity in comparison to vegetation-poor habitats.

Sperm quality and the morphology of cryopreserved testicular tissues recovered post-mortem from diverse wild species

This study compared the effects of slow and fast freezing of testicular tissue of wild animals collected at post-mortem on testicular structure and testicular sperm. The testes of seven animals that had died in captivity; three felids (jungle cat, lion and leopard), two cervids (rusa deer and fea’s muntjac) and two bovids (Sumatran serows) were cryopreserved using slow- and fast-freezing protocols. There were greater reductions in the integrity of the sperm membrane and DNA in tissues cryopreserved using slow freezing compared to fast freezing (membrane integrity reduced by 21.5±12.4% vs. 13.0±6.9%, P=0.11 and DNA integrity reduced by 22.7±16.3% vs. 6.6±6.3%, P=0.13). Histologically, there were similar degrees of detachment and shrinkage of the seminiferous tubules whereas, TUNEL assay revealed a tendency towards more apoptotic changes in the intra-tubular cells of tissues frozen using fast freezing compared to slow freezing (P=0.09). In conclusion, fast freezing tended to cause less damage to testicular sperm but its protective effect on intra-tubular cells was likely compromised. This is the first report of gamete recovery in the wild and of the comparison in various wildlife species, between testicular tissues cryopreserved using different protocols.

Ecology of Sundarban, Bangladesh

Sundarban is the largest mangrove wetland in the world. It covers an area of about 1mha, of which 60% is located in Bangladesh and the remaining western portion, comprising 40%, lies in India. Mangrove ecosystems are of great ecological significance in the tropical and sub-tropical coast. They protect our coast from heavy wind, tidal waves, coastal erosion and sea water intrusion, generate substantial quantities of fishery resources and provide many useful forestry products. The Sundarban ecosystem supports rich fisheries diversity. This ecosystem support 27 families and 53 species of pelagic fish, 49 families 124 species of demersal fish, 5 families and 24 species of shrimps, 3 families and 7 species of crabs, 8 species of lobster. A total 334 plants, 165 algal, 13 special orchids, 17 fern, 87 monocotyledon and 230 dicotyledon belonging to 245 genera and 75 families from the sundarbans and adjacent area are found available. The principal tree species is Sundry (Heritiera fomes) which covers about 73% to total landmass and the second species is Gewa (Excoecaria agallocha) which covers about 16% of total forest area. The plant species include 35 legumes, 29 grasses, 19 sedges, and 18 euphorbias. Of the 50 true mangrove plant species recorded throughout the globe, the Sundarbans alone contain 35 species. The magnificent among the animals on land is Royal Bengal Tiger, Spotted deer, barking deer and wild boars are there in plenty. Besides those jungle cats, fishing cat, civet cat, monkey, bengal fox, jackle, water monitor, monitor lizard and snakes are important faunal spp. Moreover, abundant of the Sundarbans are purple heron, pond heron, cattle egret, little egret, open billed stork, smaller adjutant stork, brahmini kite, spotted dove, rose ringed parakeet, crow pheasant, wood pecker, bee eater, drongo, pide myna, jungle myna, bulbul, tailor bird, magpie robin, sparrow etc., Otherwise, recorded that wild Buffalo, 2 species of deer, javan rhinoceros extinct and presently 2 species of amphibians, 14 species of reptiles 25 species of birds and 5 species of mammals are considered as endangered species. This paper is to produce a new assessment of the mangroves ecology of Sundarbans. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jsf.v8i1-2.14618 J. Sci. Foundation, 8(1&2): 35-47, June-December 2010

A highly informative microsatellite panel for individual identification and sex determination of jungle cats (Felis chaus)

The jungle cat (Felis chaus), a small-sized felid, is distributed across Southeast and South Asia to Egypt in Africa. In India, it is one of the most common small cat species but no reliable methods are available to monitor its population status. We describe a non-invasive genetic monitoring technique using fecal samples for individual identification and sex determination of jungle cats. We evaluated 21 feline microsatellites and optimized a panel of 11 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci that yield a cumulative Probability of Identity between siblings value of 5.51910 -6 . We used this panel to identify 110 individuals from 118 jungle cat scats collected from tiger reserves in Central India. We identified 22 males and 35 females by amplifying a fragment of the Amelogenin protein gene. This panel will be helpful to study genetic structure, gene flow, relatedness, sex ratio, and population estimation in jungle cats.

On My Way to the Bath (review)

Reviewed by: On My Way to the Bath Hope Morrison Maizes, Sarah . On My Way to the Bath; illus. by Michael Paraskevas. Walker, 2012. [32p]. Library ed. ISBN 978-0-8027-2365-9 $16.89 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-8027-2364-2 $15.99 Reviewed from galleys R 4-7 yrs. It's bathtime, but Livi would much rather play than take a boring old bath. While her increasingly frustrated mom hollers from offstage, Livi creates an assortment of imaginary scenarios to keep herself entertained as she slowly makes her way from the couch to the bathroom: she pretends to be a snake, a rock star, and ultimately a jungle cat (who pounces on her mother); finally obeying Mom's direction to get into the tub, she then imagines hersef a shark. Like-minded listeners will recognize the way imaginative Livi's creative train of thought weaves easily in and out of the real world and turns everyday things into fantasy fodder. The digitally created art features cartoon-like compositions with thick black outlines and a broad color palette. While many spreads lean towards the overbusy, the energy of the illustrations largely matches that of the wild-eyed, redheaded protagonist, who's surrounded by an omnipresent flurry of energy lines. Mom amusingly appears only in monitory word balloons until Livi the jungle cat makes her mom-catching leap. Librarians may want to have a go at asking listeners to act out Livi's fantasies along with her . . . if they dare. Copyright © 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Cats of the pharaohs: genetic comparison of Egyptian cat mummies to their feline contemporaries

The ancient Egyptians mummified an abundance of cats during the Late Period (664–332 BC). The overlapping morphology and sizes of developing wildcats and domestic cats confounds the identity of mummified cat species. Genetic analyses should support mummy identification and was conducted on two long bones and a mandible of three cats that were mummified by the ancient Egyptians. The mummy DNA was extracted in a dedicated ancient DNA laboratory at the University of California – Davis, then directly sequencing between 246 and 402 bp of the mtDNA control region from each bone. When compared to a dataset of wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris, Felis silvestris tristrami, and Felis chaus) as well as a previously published worldwide dataset of modern domestic cat samples, including Egypt, the DNA evidence suggests the three mummies represent common contemporary domestic cat mitotypes prevalent in modern Egypt and the Middle East. Divergence estimates date the origin of the mummies' mitotypes to between two and 7.5 thousand years prior to their mummification, likely prior to or during Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic Periods. These data are the first genetic evidence supporting that the ancient Egyptians used domesticated cats, Felis silvestris catus, for votive mummies, and likely implies cats were domesticated prior to extensive mummification of cats.

Symposium summary: Analytical advancements in macroecology and biogeography

ISSN 1948‐6596 rapid global warming. In so doing, comparative phylogeographic inference will increasingly be able to predict and identify climatically stable landscapes that harbor divergent lineages below the species level. Michael J. Hickerson 1,3 & Ana Carolina Carnaval 2,3 1.Biology Department, Queens College, City University of New York, USA. e‐mail: michael.hickerson@qc.cuny.edu; http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/Biology/Hickerlab/index.html 2.Biology Department, City College, City University of New York, USA. e‐mail: acarnaval@ccny.cuny.edu; http://www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/biology/Carnaval/ Carnaval_Lab/People.html 3.The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, USA References Avise, J.C. (2000) Phylogeography: The history and for‐ mation of species. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. Avise, J.C. (2008) Phylogeography: Retrospect and pros‐ pect. Journal of Biogeography, 36, 3‐15 Baird, S.J.E. & Santos, F. (2010) Monte Carlo integration over stepping stone models for spatial genetic inference using approximate Bayesian computa‐ tion. Molecular Ecology Resources, 10, 873‐885 Carnaval, A., Hickerson, M.J., Haddad, C.F.B., Rodri‐ gues, M.T. & Moritz, C. (2009) Stability predicts news and update genetic diversity in the brazilian atlantic forest hotspot. Science, 323, 785‐789 Estoup, A., Baird, S.J.E., Ray, N., Currat, M., Cornuet, J.‐ M., Santos, F., Beaumont, M.A. & Excoffier, L. (2010) Combining genetic, historical and geo‐ graphical data to reconstruct the dynamics of bio‐ invasions: Application to the cane toad Bufo mari‐ nus. Molecular Ecology Resources, 10, 886‐901 Moritz, C. (2002) Strategies to protect biological diver‐ sity and the evolutionary processes that sustain it. Systematic Biology, 51, 238‐254 Mukherjee, S., Krishnan, A., Tamma, K., Home, C., R, N., Joseph, S., Das, A. & Ramakrishnan, U. (2010) Ecology driving genetic variation: A comparative phylogeography of jungle cat (Felis chaus) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in India. PLoS ONE, 5, e13724 Riginos, C., Douglas, K.E., Jin, Y., Shanahan, D.F. & Treml, E.A. (2011) Effects of geography and life history traits on genetic differentiation in ben‐ thic marine fishes. Ecography, doi:10.1111/ j.1600‐0587.2010.06511.x Robin, V.V., Sinha, A. & Ramakrishnan, U. (2010) Ancient geographical gaps and paleo‐climate shape the phylogeography of an endemic bird in the sky islands of southern India. PLoS ONE, 5, e13321 Schneider, C.J., Cunningham, M. & Moritz, C. (1998) Comparative phylogeography and the history of endemic vertebrates in the wet tropics rainfor‐ ests of Australia. Molecular Ecology, 7, 487‐498 Edited by Michael N Dawson symposium summary Analytical advancements in macroecology and biogeography A symposium at the 5th International Biogeography Society Conference – Heraklion, Greece, 7– 11 January 2011 Macroecology analyzes patterns and processes of biological diversity at broad scales, both in space and time, based on an integration of distinct fields of ecology, physiology, behavioural sciences, evo‐ lution and biogeography. Common definitions of macroecology (e.g., Brown 1995, Gaston & Black‐ burn 2000) emphasize two sets of contrasting is‐ sues: “patterns and processes” and “scale”. In that context, we can ask not only how ecological and evolutionary processes at local scales—such as selection, drift, dispersal and competition—affect individuals and populations, but also how they may lead to geographic range dynamics (extinction, contraction and fragmentation) at the species level. We can then contemplate how the patterns derived from ecological and evolutionary processes may shape broad‐scale patterns of di‐ versity, and also how other emergent processes or properties contribute to diversity patterns. To achieve this synthetic, integrative view, and understand the roles of different processes and emergent properties at distinct scales, it is important to think about which methods could be used. The continuous development of computing capacity and increasing data generation allow ever more sophisticated analyses, enabling novel in‐ frontiers of biogeography 3.1, 2011 — © 2011 the authors; journal compilation © 2011 The International Biogeography Society

Food habits and temporal activity patterns of the Golden Jackal Canis aureus and the Jungle Cat Felis chaus in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

The food habits and temporal activity patterns of the Golden Jackal Canis aureus and the Jungle Cat Felis chaus were studied between January 2008 and June 2009 in Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), Madhya Pradesh. A total of 50 jackal scats and 85 jungle cat scats were collected where-ever encountered in the study area. Information on activity pattern was obtained using camera traps. Fifty-two pair self-triggered analog cameras were deployed in each 2 x 2 km² across the study area (> 250 km²) close to animal trails which were set to work on a continuous 24 hour period. Rodents contributed maximum in the diet of these two species (65% golden jackal scats and 56% jungle cat scats). Eight thousand five hundred and sixty camera-trap nights revealed 189 jungle cat captures and 49 golden jackal captures. The activity of golden jackal had a more homogeneous distribution in time. Present study showed that although some degree of overlap is observed between the two sympatric species, an overall difference in dietary composition and activity patterns enabled them to coexist in PTR.

Evolutionary dynamics of endogenous feline leukemia virus proliferation among species of the domestic cat lineage

Endogenous feline leukemia viruses (enFeLVs) occur in the germ lines of the domestic cat and related wild species (genus Felis). We sequenced the long terminal repeats and part of the env region of enFeLVs in domestic cats and five wild species. A total of 305 enFeLV sequences were generated across 17 individuals, demonstrating considerable diversity within two major clades. Distinct proliferations of enFeLVs occurred before and after the black-footed cat diverged from the other species. Diversity of enFeLVs was limited for the sand cat and jungle cat suggesting that proliferation of enFeLVs occurred within these species after they diverged. Relationships among enFeLVs were congruent with host species relationships except for the jungle cat, which carried only enFeLVs from a lineage that recently invaded the germline (enFeLV-AGTT). Comparison of wildcat and domestic cat enFeLVs indicated that a distinctive germ line invasion of enFeLVs has not occurred since the cat was domesticated.

Characterisation of blood cells in jungle cat, Felis chaus (Carnivora, Felidae)

The jungle cat (Felis chaus subsp. fulvidina) of Thailand is a protected animal. Haematological and morphological characteristics of blood cells in eight captive jungle cats (three males and five females) were investigated using complete blood cell counts, cytochemical stains and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Haematological results were reported as mean, median and range (minimum–maximum). Neutrophils stained strongly positive for Sudan black B (SBB) and peroxidase (PO). Basophils were strongly positive for α-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and β-glucuronidase (BG) while eosinophils were negative for all cytochemical stains. Monocytes were negative for SBB and had fine granular reactivity for PO, ANAE and BG. The ultra-structure of eosinophils and basophils were different from that reported for other wild cats in Southeast Asia. The haematology, cytochemistry and ultra-structure of blood cells in the jungle cat may be useful in evaluating and monitoring the health of this species in captivity.

Ecological networks as a new approach for nature conservation in Turkey: A case study of İzmir Province

This paper aims to identify and evaluate a potential ecological network including core areas and large-scale corridors in the İzmir Province and its surrounding areas, Turkey. It is one of the first studies on the connectivity for mammal species and the detection of potential ecological corridors for Turkey. Four wide-ranging species ( Hyaena hyaena, Lynx lynx, Caracal caracal, and Felis chaus) have been chosen as target species. Existing Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and surrounding lands have been evaluated based on a three criteria: (1) vegetation/habitat types, (2) carrying capacity and (3) road density using simple GIS-based models. The results are evaluated using the Minimum Viable Metapopulation (MVMP) standards. No KBA in the study region has a Key Population (KP) or Minimum Viable Population (MVP) with the exception of Boz Dağlar. Least cost-path analysis has been applied to identify linkages between KBAs relevant for the four target species. The conclusion is that it is possible to maintain MVPs in the region when the KBAs are linked by ecological corridors.

Spectral characteristics of intense mew calls in cat species of the genus Felis (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae)

Spectral characteristics of intense mew calls of six cat (sub)species in the genus Felis were studied in captivity: European wildcat (Felis s. silvestris), African wildcat (F. s. lybica), Asiatic steppe cat (F. s. ornata), black-footed cat (F. nigripes), jungle cat (F. chaus), and sand cat (F. margarita). The body weight of the largest (jungle cat) of the six taxa is about six times that of the smallest (black-footed cat), and they live in different habitat types ranging from open desert virtually devoid of vegetation (sand cat) to various types of rather dense forest and shrubland (European wildcat). These habitats differ considerably in the conditions for sound propagation. In this study we analyzed whether and how spectral characteristics of the intense mew calls of these cat taxa are related to their body weight/size and predominant habitat type (open vs. dense). Neither the mean fundamental frequency nor the mean dominant frequency of the intense calls of these cat (sub)species showed an inverse correlation with their respective body weights (“frequency scaling rule”). Rather, the mean dominant frequency is significantly positively correlated with body weight, being lower in the calls of the smaller taxa living in open habitat compared to those of the larger taxa living in dense habitat types. The hypothesis supported best by our data is that spectral features of intense mew calls in the Felis taxa studied have evolved to reduce attenuation when propagating through their respective habitat types.

Karyological Study of the Jungle Cat, Felis chaus (Carnivora, Felidae) by Conventional Staining, G-banding and High-resolution Staining Technique

As an endangered species in Thailand, wild animal species of the jungle cat (Felis chaus) was selected for karyological study. Blood samples were taken from 2 males and 2 females. After the standard whole blood lymphocyte culture in the presence of colchicine, the metaphase spreads were performed on microscopic slides and air-dried. Conventional staining, G-banding and high-resolution staining technique were applied to stain the chromosomes. The results showed that 2n (diploid) of jungle cat was 38, and the fundamental number (NF) was 72 in the male and female. There are 6 autosome types: A type had 6 large submetacentric chromosomes, B type had 8 large acrocentric chromosomes, C type had 4 large metacentric chromosomes, D type had 8 small submetacentric chromosomes, E type had 6 small metacentric chromosomes and F type had 4 small telocentric chromosomes. A pair of the short arm of chromosome E1 (chromosome pairs 14) showed a clearly observable satellite chromosomes. The X chromosome was medium submetacentric chromosome and the Y chromosome was the smallest submetacentric chromosome. From the G-banding and high-resolution staining technique, the number of bands and locations in the jungle cat was 167 and 183 respectively, and each chromosome pair could be clearly differentiated. We found that chromosomes B1, B2, D1, D4, E3, F2 and X chromosome patterns were according to the domestic cat (Felis catus) chromosomes. Chromosomes A1, A2, A3, B3, B4, C1, C2, D2, E1, E2, F1 and Y-chromosome are similar to those of the domestic cat. These results show the evolutionary relationship between the jungle cat and domestic cat. The karyotype formula for the male and female jungle cat is as follows: 2n(38) = L4m + L6sm + L8a + S6m + S8sm + S4t + sex chromosomes.

Geographic variation in jungle cat (Felis chaus Schreber, 1777) (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae) body size: is competition responsible?

There is a striking difference in body size of jungle cats (Felis chaus) in the west and the east of their distribution, with Israeli cats being 43% heavier than Indian cats. We tested the hypothesis that increasing competition from other small felids towards the east is responsible for the difference in body size. We measured jungle cat skulls for eight cranial and dental variables and related these to independent variables such as species richness (local and regional), latitude, longitude, temperature, and precipitation. Data from a narrow band between latitudes 24.0°N and 33.9°N, where Bergmann's rule was largely not observed, showed that the western population (≤ 50.0°E longitude) of jungle cats is larger than the eastern (> 60.0°E longitude) population with the size difference being most evident in the upper carnassials (P4L). Species richness at the regional level showed a significant negative relation to P4L. An even spacing in condylobasal length for a small-cat guild from India through null model analysis indicated the occurrence of character displacement. The results support the hypothesis that competition is responsible for geographical variation in jungle cat body size in the region where Bergmann's rule does not apply.

Genetic Relationships among Wild Felidae in Thailand Using AFLP Markers

The cytogenetics of eight Felidae species in Thailand were investigated by the colchicines-hypotonic fixation-air drying technique followed by a conventional technique. All species studied have an identical number of 38 diploid chromosomes, indicating a close genetic relationship among species. At a deep study level, the genetic relationships of eight Felidae species were accessed by the AFLP method. Blood samples were collected from sources locating in their original regions for DNA extraction. With ten successful primer combinations, a total of 4208 scorable bands were generated. Of these bands, 18.91% are polymorphic. Percentages of Polymorphic Bands (PPB) for each primer combination range from 15.00 to 23.59%. The generating bands were used for dendrogram construction. The average genetic similarity values among all Felidae species are 68.20% (between Panthera tigris and Neofelis nebulosa) to 85.53% (between Prionailurus bengalensis and Prionailurus viverrinus). The dendrogram shows that the eight Felidae species were clustered together and the subfamily Pantherinae and Felinae with Neofelis nebulosa are distinguished. The Felinae, Prionailurus bengalensis, Prionailurus viverrinus, Catopuma temminckii, Felis chaus, Pardofelis marmorata and Neofelis nebulosa were clustered together with 91% bootstrap support and the Pantherinae, Panthera pardus is clustered with Panthera tigris with 92% bootstrap support. In summary, the ten successful primer combinations can be used to determine genetic differences among eight Thailand Felidae species.