Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii) - Bay Cat Lineage
Asian Golden cat By Karen Stout (originally posted to Flickr as Asian Golden cat) [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons

The medium sized Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii) occurs across a vast range in Asia yet density is poorly known and occurrence is likely patchy. The Asiatic Golden Cat, also called the Asian Golden Cat, is typically golden reddish (hence the name) but the species varies considerably in size, coat patterns and coloration across its range. As a forest dependent specialist, deforestation within the region is a major threat, and poaching appears to be increasing with reports of this cat being substituted for tiger pelt and bones.

Bay Cat Lineage

1. Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii)

2. Borneo Bay Cat (Catopuma badia)

3. Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata)

Key Facts about Asiatic Golden Cats

~ Highly variable coat color ~

~  Forest habitat dependent ~

~ Striking facial markings ~

Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii) Classification

The Asiatic Golden Cat belongs to the genus Catopuma and the full taxonomy, scientific classification or higher classification of the Asiatic Golden Cat species (Catopuma temminckii) is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)

Class: Mammalia (mammals)

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Suborder: Feliformia (cat-like)

Family: Felidae (cats)

Subfamily: Felinae (small cats)

Genus: Catopuma

Species: Catopuma temminckii (Asiatic Golden Cat)

Asiatic Golden Cat (Pardofelis temminckii) by Gerard Lacz

Asiatic Golden Cat (Pardofelis temminckii) by Gerard Lacz

Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii) Subspecies

Lower classification

The global conservation status for the Asiatic Golden Cat is Near Threatened (NT) and populations are declining.

Up to five subspecies of the Asiatic Golden Cat have been described in the past:

  • Catopuma temminckii temminckii
  • Catopuma temminckii dominicanorum
  • Catopuma temminckii tristis
  • Catopuma temminckii bainesi
  • Catopuma temminckii moormensis

However based on recent genetic studies the current Felidae taxonomic revision proposes only two subspecies, with the other three being color variants of C.t. moormensis:

  • Catopuma temminckii temminckii - Sumatra and Malay Peninsula - smaller size, reddish coloration.
  • Catopuma temminckii moormensis - Nepal to north Burma, China, Tibet and south-east Asia - larger size, variable patterns and coloration.

Asiatic Golden Cat Conservation & Research

At this time there appears to be no active projects focused on this species, however the following organizations are dedicated to research and conservation in the region and other small cats:

Please support them with their important work. No matter how small or large your donation, every bit helps!

 

Asiatic Golden Cat (Pardofelis temminckii) by Rod Williams

Asiatic golden cat (Pardofelis temminckii)

Asiatic / Asian Golden Cat Facts and Information

The following websites have well researched and authoritative information on Asiatic Golden Cats also known as Asian Golden Cats: