By L. Shyamal (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) is a common wild cat species occurring throughout Asia, preferring riverine and wetland habitats in the west of its range.
However accelerated habitat loss has seen declines of this species where its range is close to urban and industrial development.
Jungle Cats seem to adapt to certain agricultural land uses, although this can lead to predator conflict with farmers.
Key Facts about Jungle Cats
~ Active day and night ~
~ Very strong swimmers ~
~ Mostly Asian range ~
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Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) Classification
Jungle Cats belong to the Felis genus and the full taxonomy or scientific classification of the Jungle Cat species is:
Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)
Class: Mammalia (mammals)
Order: Carnivora (carnivores)
Suborder: Feliformia (cat-like)
Family: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae (small cats)
Genus: Felis
Species: Felis chaus (Jungle Cat)
Subspecies:
F.c. chaus (Western Jungle Cat)
F.c. affinis (Indian Jungle Cat)
F.c. fulvidina (Eastern Jungle Cat)
The scientific name for the Jungle Cat is Felis chaus which is also known as the binomial name, species name, latin name, biological name or zoological name. Some use the term 'botanical name' however that term is only applicable to the plant kingdom (botany) and not the animal kingdom (zoology).
Classification Chart
This Jungle Cat classification chart shows where this cat fits into the Felidae family and in particular the Felis genus.
Permission to use for personal or educational use.
Credit: www.WildCatFamily.com.
Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) Subspecies
There are three subspecies (or types) of Jungle Cats according to the last Felidae taxonomy revision in 2017:
1. Western Jungle Cat (F.c. chaus) - Egypt and Middle East to Turkestan, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan and Afghanistan (riverine habitat)
2. Indian Jungle Cat (F.c. affinis - East Afghanistan, Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka (variety of habitats)
3. Eastern Jungle Cat (F.c. fulvidina) - SE Asia, including China (variety of habitats)
Historically up to ten Jungle Cat subspecies have been recognized.
Jungle Cat Research
Here is a list of papers published on Jungle Cats. Click on the title bar to view the abstract and the link to the article.
Co-occurrence and spatial and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle and leopard cats are influenced by habitat preferences, and interspecific competition. Understanding these factors influence is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies.
We conducted a camera survey in Parsa‒Koshi Complex (PKC), Nepal during December 2022–March 2023 to investigate factors influencing occupancy and spatial and temporal overlap between jungle cats (Felis chaus) and leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis). The mean detection probability (t = 0.664, p = 0.507) did not differ between jungle cats (p = 0.500 ± 0.289) and leopard cats (p = 0.501 ± 0.288); however, occupancy (t = 31.008, p < 0.001) was greater for jungle cats (ψ = 0.247 ± 0.020) than leopard cats (ψ = 0.178 ± 0.019).
Jungle cats and leopard cats were positively associated with large predators, and jungle cats were positively associated with human presence and negatively associated with canopy cover. We observed high diel overlap between leopard cats and jungle cats (Dhat1 = 0.802, norm0CI: 0.720–0.884), with both species largely nocturnal.
Co-existence of jungle cats and leopard cats in PKC appears to be facilitated by spatial segregation. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex ecological dynamics and interactions between sympatric jungle and leopard cats.
Sharma, Hari & Bhattarai, Bishnu & Regmi, Sandeep & Bhandari, Shivish & Adhikari, Dipendra & Aryal, Bishnu & Tamang, Krishna & Nepali, Amrit & C., Sabin & Rawal, Basudha & Parajuli, Sagar & Baral, Bashu & Devkota, Surya & Koirala 沙莎, Sabina & Belant, Jerry & Katuwal, Hem. (2024). Occurrence and temporal overlap of sympatric jungle cats and leopard cats in Parsa‒Koshi Complex, Nepal. Scientific Reports. 14. 10.1038/s41598-024-52644-w.
On 28th January 2023 at 02:30 PM first author (PC) recorded and photographed the completely black in colour cat species during the jungle safari in the Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India.
Based on the photographic evidence we identified the species as Jungle cat (Felis chaus), which was affected by melanism.
In this note, we highlighted the importance of color aberration on wild animals in their natural habitats. This is necessary for a better understanding of this phenomenon and its insights into the ecological and physiological implications of this condition considerably affecting animal survival.
Samson, Arockianathan & Chandrasekar, Das & .N, Moinudheen & Princy, Jabamalainathan & Bah, Jesudass. (2024). A Melanistic Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) in the Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India. Mammalogy Notes. 10. 367. 10.47603/mano.v10n1.367.
We used citizen science and inexpensive methodology to assess the distribution of the jungle cat Felis chaus, a relatively common species in Sri Lanka but the least studied of the four wild cat species occurring in the country.
We obtained three types of records of the jungle cat: geo-referenced photographs of the species from the public; sightings obtained from print and social media, and provided via an online sighting form; and sightings by field biologists. We combined the 112 unique records obtained in this way with the 21 records from the 2012 National Red List distribution map of the species, and used MaxEnt to predict habitat suitability for the species.
The new sightings were primarily in drier regions, expanding the known extent of occurrence for this species in Sri Lanka. Of the new sightings, 7.1% were road kills. Distance to nearest riverine forest, annual precipitation and distance to the nearest reservoir were the most important variables explaining habitat suitability.
These findings validate our hypotheses that the species is more widespread than demonstrated previously and also ranges in human-dominated landscapes outside protected areas.
Our study provides a model for how ecological and behavioural information for common species can be obtained inexpensively and incorporated into species distribution models. Studies of species such as the jungle cat, which are neither threatened nor charismatic, will help ensure that we keep common species common.
Miththapala, S.; Dertien, J.; Liyanage, N.; Mirando, N.; Ratnayaka, A.A.W.; Thudugala, A.; Wijesinghe, D.; De Alwis Goonatilake, S.
Using citizen science to study a mesocarnivore: the jungle cat Felis chaus in Sri Lanka
2022 Oryx (56): 782-788
Although the jungle cat (Felis chaus) has been listed as a species of Least Concern - (LC status) by IUCN data, there are many threats endangering the population of the jungle cat in Turkey. Currently, relatively little is known about their population status and ecology.
Our study aims to determine the jungle cat's population density, interactions among humans and other wild animals, and the diel activity patterns. This research was carried out in the northern part of Egirdir Lake within the borders of Isparta province between March 2016 and July 2017. Presence absence studies were carried out and evaluated using 15 camera traps, placed in 193 stations based on the opportunist method in areas where trail-marks of the jungle cat were detected.
Throughout the study 83 camera trap data belonging to jungle cats over 4403 camera trapping days were obtained from 193 stations. This study provides the 1st robust estimation of the jungle cat population size and spatiotemporal interactions of humans and other wildlife species in Turkey.
As a result of this study, it was concluded that human activity affects wildlife behavior and that wild animals are having to adjust their living and feeding behaviors according to human activity. Our study underlines the need to consider activity patterns of wildlife for conservation and environmental management planning.
Ünal Y., Eryilmaz A.
Jungle cat (Felis chaus, Schreber, 1777) population density estimates, activity pattern and spatiotemporal interactions with humans and other wildlife species in Turkey
2020 Applied ecology and environmental research (18): 5873-5890
Adhya T. 2015.
Habitat use and diet of two sympatric felids - the Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) and the Jungle cat (Felis chaus) - in a human-dominated landscape in suburban Kolkata. MSc Thesis, National Centre for Biological Sciences Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
Majumder A., Sankar K., Qureshi Q. & Basu S. 2011.
Food habits and temporal activity patterns of the Golden Jackal Canis aureus and the Jungle Cat Felis chaus in Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(11), 2221-5
Mukherjee S., Krishnan A., Tamma K., Home C., et al. 2010.
Ecology Driving Genetic Variation: A Comparative Phylogeography of Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) and Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in India. PLoS ONE 5(10).
Ogurlu I., Gundogdu E. & Yildirim I. C. 2010.
Population status of jungle cat (Felis chaus) in Egirdir lake, Turkey. Journal of Environmental Biology 31, 179-183.
Duckworth J. W., Poole C. M., Tizard R. J., Walston J. L. & Timmins R. J. 2005.
The jungle cat Felis chaus in Indochina: a threatened population of a widespread and adaptable species. Biodiversity and Conservation 14, 1263-80.
View more articles on Felis chaus on ResearchGate.
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Jungle Cat Conservation
The global conservation status for the Jungle Cat is Least Concern (LC); although there has been declines in parts of its range. Rapid habitat loss, poaching and wildlife conflict are the main threats to the survival of this wild cat.
As with many small cat species there is rarely a conservation program dedicated to one species, however the following organizations support multiple small cat projects:
International Society for Endangered Cats - ISEC
Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation - SWCCF in partnership with Wildlife Conservation Network - WCN
Panthera - Small Cat Program
Please support these organizations with their important work if you can. No matter the size of your contribution, every bit helps!
Jungle Cat Facts and Information
The following organizations have well researched and authoritative information on Jungle Cats:
- IUCN Cat Specialist Group - Detailed Information
- IUCN Red List - Status and Distribution Map
- ISEC Int. Soc. Endangered Cats - Species Overview
- Wild Cats of Africa - Jungle Cats in Africa
