Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii) Classification

Understanding how sympatric carnivores coexist within structurally complex tropical evergreen forests is essential for effective wildlife conservation. We examined spatial and temporal overlap between the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and the Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii), together with their potential prey, in Khlong Nakha Wildlife Sanctuary, southern Thailand.

Camera trapping was conducted at 32 stations arranged in a 140 × 140 m grid within a 200,000 m² (0.2 km²) permanent plot and its surrounding buffer (total area: 533,000 m²; 0.533 km²), producing 33,325 trap-nights from January 2022 to December 2024. Species relative activity was assessed using the relative abundance index (RAI). Temporal activity patterns and overlap were quantified using kernel density estimation and coefficients of temporal overlap (Δ), while spatial overlap was evaluated using Pianka’s index and Bayesian pairwise site-use interaction models.

A total of 48 wildlife species were recorded, including several nationally and globally threatened taxa. Both felids occurred at low relative abundance (clouded leopard RAI = 0.08; Asiatic golden cat RAI = 0.13) but were detected across multiple camera stations. Temporal overlap between the two predators was high (Δ = 0.76), whereas spatial overlap was low to moderate (0.24), resulting in low spatiotemporal overlap (0.12). Bayesian analyses revealed no strong evidence of spatial avoidance or attraction between the two felids.

In contrast, predator–prey associations were more pronounced. The clouded leopard showed selective spatial overlap with medium-sized ungulates, while the Asiatic golden cat exhibited broader spatial and spatiotemporal overlap with a wider range of prey species.

These results suggest that coexistence between the two felids at a fine spatial scale is facilitated by niche partitioning driven primarily by differential space use and prey-linked habitat associations, rather than temporal segregation alone.

Kaewdee, Bunyatiporn & He, Xuelian & Duengkae, Prateep & Sukmasuang, Ronglarp. (2026). Fine-scale spatial and temporal overlap of clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) and Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) in a tropical evergreen forest of southern Thailand. Ecologica Montenegrina. 98. 62-79. 10.37828/em.2026.98.6.

Of the 12 wild felid species found in China, Asiatic golden cat ( Catopuma temminckii ) is one of the least studied species. This medium‐sized cat with a prominently polymorphic coat was once distributed across much of southern China, but is believed to have experienced severe decline and range contraction during the past decades, primarily due to anthropogenic pressures. A lack of knowledge of its current distribution, ecology, and natural history has greatly hindered the implementation of conservation and management actions for this species.

In this study, for the first time, we compiled the state‐wide occurrence records ( N = 409), mainly from the camera‐trapping surveys, of Asiatic golden cats from 2008 to 2019, and predicted its distribution across the country through species distribution modeling using random forest algorithm.

The results showed that the predicted habitats were mainly located in southwest China and suggested a rather low probability of possible current distribution across its vast historic range in central, eastern, and southern China. We divided its current range into four geographic regions (i.e., Qinling Mountains, Hengduan Mountains, East Himalayas, and southern Yunnan region) and considered the cats in each region as a regional population within the country.

From the 287 camera‐trapping detections with photographs and/or videos collected across all populations, we identified six coat morphs and determined their occurrence percentages: common golden (47.4%), spotted (20.9%), red (13.6%), dark cinnamon (10.1%), melanistic (7.0%), and gray (1.0%). The complexity of coat morph composition within regional populations showed an increasing gradient from northeast to southwest. Among the four regional populations, the East Himalayas hosted the highest abundance and coat variation with all six morphs recorded.

Our study results update the current distribution and coat morphology variations of this elusive cat in China and provide important knowledge to guide future research and conservation planning for this threatened species.

Duan, Fei & Zhu, Shuyi & Wang, Yuan & Song, Dazhao & Shen, Xiaoli & Li, Sheng. (2024). Distribution of the Asiatic golden cat ( Catopuma temminckii ) and variations in its coat morphology in China. Ecology and Evolution. 14. 10.1002/ece3.10900.

The Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) is the most varied wild cat species in terms of coat color. Understanding coat pattern variation will help to elucidate the mechanisms behind it as well as its relationship with the environment.

We conducted long-term (2013–2021) monitoring of Asian golden cats in the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve, Tibet, using camera traps at 283 points over 89,991 camera days. A total of 620 cat photos were recorded, including 344 (55.48%) with recognizable color patterns.

Vector graphics of the coat patterns were extracted from the field image data, which revealed 10 color types in the ratio common: cinnamon: reddish-brown long hair: ocelot: blackening: melanistic: gray: brown: brown short hair: pure black = 123:76:57:35:22:8:7:7:5:4. The genes for coat pattern variation are widespread in the Asian golden cat population and are relatively stable.

The increase in population size intraspecific competition has led to the tail break phenotype in individual cats. The gene encoding for tail breakage in Asian golden cats remains unknown.

This study provides basic information for understanding faunal diversity in the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and serves as a reference for studies on the formation mechanisms for feline color pattern diversity.

Wang, Yuan & Li, Dajiang & Dunzhu, Pubu & Liu, Wulin & Feng, Limin & Jin, Kun. (2022). Recognition of Coat Pattern Variation and Broken Tail Phenomenon in the Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii). Animals. 12. 1420. 10.3390/ani12111420.

The eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, a global biodiversity hotspot, is threatened by habitat degradation. Conservation actions are required in this region, but limited knowledge of large and medium-sized mammals is hampering conservation planning.

Using 149 camera traps, we surveyed large and medium-sized mammals in Xionglongxi Provincial Nature Reserve and adjacent areas, on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, during September 2016 - May 2017.

We obtained 5,752 independent captures of 29 large and medium-sized mammal species, including 13 that are globally threatened and 22 that are nationally threatened in China. Carnivores were especially diverse, with 16 species recorded. Of particular significance was our detection of seven felid species, including the leopard Panthera pardus and the snow leopard Panthera uncia. Our record of the Chinese mountain cat Felis bieti extends the known range of this species. We documented new upper elevation limits for eight species. There was elevational overlap between the leopard and the snow leopard, suggesting potential competition between the two species. The grey wolf Canis lupus and the leopard were the dominant predators, and the woolly hare Lepus oiostolus and several species of ungulates were the most frequently photographed prey species.

The study area maintains a significant community of large and medium-sized mammals, which is more diverse than in other areas on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. We recommend the establishment of a larger nature reserve of national protection status in the region of the Xionglongxi Provincial Nature Reserve, to protect the unique subalpine and alpine ecosystems in this area.

Xu, Y.; Wang, B.; Gu, X.; Song, D.; Yang, B.
Camera trapping reveals area of conservation significance for large and medium-sized mammals on the eastern Tibetan Plateau
2022 Oryx (56): 137-144

The Asiatic Golden Cat Catopuma temminckii is poorly known in Nepal and was previously recorded only twice in the eastern part of the country.

We conducted a camera trap survey in the Lapchi Valley (32km²) of Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA), a protected area in north-central Nepal, from October 2018 to April 2019. Eleven cameras were deployed to record mammalian diversity in a 2×2 km² grid across Lapchi block of GCA. During the study period, four photos and three videos (each of 10 seconds length) of Asiatic Golden Cats were recorded at an elevation of 2,540m at a single camera trap station.

This is the first photographic record of Asiatic Golden Cat in this region of Nepal extending the distribution of the species further west in the Himalaya.

A more detailed study on its distribution, population size and behaviour is warranted in the near future to implement appropriate conservation measures.

Koju, N.P.; Bashyal, B.; Pandey, B.P.; Thami, S.; Dhamala, M.K.; Shah, S.N.
New record on Asiatic Golden Cat _Catopuma temminckii _Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae): photographic evidence of its westernmost distribution in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal
2020 Journal of Threatened Taxa (12): 15256-15261

Fifteen extant species of cats inhabit India, and the northeastern region of the country is among the richest with nine species. Among these are the "standard four", an assemblage of Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Asiatic Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii), Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata), and Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), which also occur across southeastern Asia. Within India, despite several surveys in this region, very little information exists on the ecology of this assemblage to explain their co-occurrence.

In this paper, we put together data from several independent camera trapping studies over 10 sites across northeastern India to examine and interpret diel activity patterns of this group. While we present results for all the four species, we focus on two species, the Marbled Cat and Leopard Cat, which are of very similar body size and are potential competitors. We used kernel density estimates to measure diel activity patterns of all four species and overlap in activity between Marbled Cat and Leopard Cat at the regional scale as well as the point scale. We obtained 783 captures of the standard four from >27,500 trap nights.

The Asiatic Golden Cat and Marbled Cat were strongly diurnal, Clouded Leopard largely crepuscular and nocturnal, and Leopard Cat largely nocturnal. The degree of overlap between Marbled Cat and Leopard Cat activity was low and in consensus with other studies across southeastern Asia.

We interpret this as the differing niche spaces of the two cats due to their specific pre-existing adaptations, not restricted to the effects of competition. The point scale analysis when both cats are captured at the same location and separately show no shift in activity pattern, supporting our hypothesis of pre-existing differences in resources, such as food, playing a major role in facilitating co-existence. Our study, however, is preliminary and additional information with robust analysis is required to test this finding.

Mukherjee, S.; Singh, P.; Silva, A.P.; Ri, C.; Kakati, K.; Borah, B.; Tapi, T.; Kadur, S.; Choudhary, P.; Srikant, S.; Nadig, S.; Navya, R.; Björklund, M.; Ramakrishnan, U.
Activity patterns of the small and medium felid (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) guild in northeastern India
2019 Journal of Threatened Taxa (11): 13432-13447

Background. The bay cat Catopuma badia is endemic to Borneo, whereas its sister species the Asian golden cat Catopuma temminckii is distributed from the Himalayas and southern China through Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Based on morphological data, up to five subspecies of the Asian golden cat have been recognized, but a taxonomic assessment, including molecular data and morphological characters, is still lacking.

Results. We combined molecular data (whole mitochondrial genomes), morphological data (pelage) and species distribution projections (up to the Late Pleistocene) to infer how environmental changes may have influenced the distribution of these sister species over the past 120 000 years. The molecular analysis was based on sequenced mitogenomes of 3 bay cats and 40 Asian golden cats derived mainly from archival samples. Our molecular data suggested a time of split between the two species approximately 3.16 Ma and revealed very low nucleotide diversity within the Asian golden cat population, which supports recent expansion of the population.

Discussion. The low nucleotide diversity suggested a population bottleneck in the Asian golden cat, possibly caused by the eruption of the Toba volcano in Northern Sumatra (approx. 74 kya), followed by a continuous population expansion in the Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene. Species distribution projections, the reconstruction of the demographic history, a genetic isolation-by-distance pattern and a gradual variation of pelage pattern support the hypothesis of a post-Toba population expansion of the Asian golden cat from south China/Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Our findings reject the current classification of five subspecies for the Asian golden cat, but instead support either a monotypic species or one comprising two subspecies: (i) the Sunda golden cat, distributed south of the Isthmus of Kra: C. t. temminckii and (ii) Indochinese, Indian, Himalayan and Chinese golden cats, occurring north of the Isthmus: C. t. moormensis.

Patel, R.P.; Foerster, D.W.; Kitchener, A.C.; Rayan, M.D.; Mohamed, S.W.; Werner, L.; Lenz, D.; Pfestorf, H.; Kramer-Schadt, S.; Radchuk, V.; Fickel, J.; Wilting, A.
Two species of southeast Asian cats in the genus _Catopuma_ with diverging histories: an island endemic forest specialist and a widespread habitat generalist
2016 Royal Society Open Science (3): 1-15