The Wildcat (Felis silvestris) It is a placental mammal that belongs to the Felidae family. Although this species is different from the domestic cat, since its body is more robust and the tail ends in a black tassel, it can be crossed with it. The product of this mating is a fertile hybrid.
The fur of the wild cat, as it is also known, has a grayish-brown color that becomes lighter in the ventral area and in the lower parts. On the forehead it has four black lines oriented longitudinally. These converge in a stripe that runs along the entire spine.
It is distributed throughout much of Eurasia and in Africa. In these regions it prefers forest mosaic habitats, where open areas, such as scattered scrub, alternate with forests, weeds and rocky areas. It is generally absent from urban environments and from very open or semi-desert spaces.
Felis silvestris it is a solitary animal, with elusive behaviors. It usually demarcates the territory by spraying it with its urine and depositing its feces in a high place. You can also mark the area with the odor that your scent glands secrete. For this he rubs his body against the trees or bushes.
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The domestic cat is directly descended from the African wildcat, a subspecies that has inhabited the Middle East for more than 7,000 years. This feline was domesticated in Egypt around 4000 years ago and its introduction to other regions occurred 2000 years ago.
One of the reasons the bobcat was attracted to human populations may have been the presence of mice. These were found in the grain stores of the peasant settlements.
The residents benefited from their presence, as they contributed to the control of these rodents. However, researchers maintain that the true motive for domestication was religious. In the ancient Egyptian city of Bubastis there was a cult that worshiped cats.
The disciples of the goddess of pleasure Bast built sanctuaries with numerous statues of cats, which they also mummified.
Because the bobcat lives in rocky areas, in dense thickets, and in burrows, few natural predators stalk it. In Central Europe, these wild cats are fiercely attacked by the European pine marten (Tuesday tuesday).
Other predators are the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the golden jackal (C. aureus). In the steppes of Asia and Europe, Eurasian lynxes and dogs chase and capture the Felis silvestris. In Tajikistan, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) destroys their burrow, being able to hunt females and their young.
The bobcat, along with the other members of the Felidae family, shared a common ancestor around 10 to 15 million years ago. The separation between the felines that are part of the genus Felis and their family occurred approximately between 6 and 7 million years ago.
In relation to the European wildcat, it was a species that evolved in the Cromerian Stage, approximately 866,000 to 478,000 years ago.
The direct ancestor of the bobcat is the Felis lunensis. Martelli's cat, the name by which this extinct animal is known, lived during the Holstein interglacial period, in the Pliocene, 2.5 million years ago.
Its size was much greater than that of the current species, having been reduced through different evolutionary processes. The fossil evidences that were found in Hungary and Italy suggest that it evolved originating at Felis silvestris.
Phylogenetic investigations of European and African wildcats indicate that migration from Europe to the Middle East occurred during the Late Pleistocene.
According to the fossil record, during the evolutionary process that occurred in Europe 50,000 years ago, a “steppe” phenotype emerged, leaving that continent to colonize the Middle East. Later, this steppe cat dispersed to the east, settling in the current Asian populations, and to the south, distributing itself in almost all of Africa.
Both the male and the female have anal and sebaceous glands. Males have pre-anal pouches on their tails, which are active when they are sexually mature. They play an important role in mating and marking the territory..
The wildcat is sexually dimorphic, with males being larger than females. These can weigh between 2.7 and 5.6 kilograms and are 48.8 to 59.5 centimeters long. As for the males, they measure approximately 48.5 to 65 centimeters long and their weight is 3.5 to 7 kilograms..
The skull is large, with a cranial volume of 35 cubic cm, while in the domestic cat it is 32 cubic cm. Their ears are erect, with a wide base and a pointed end, similar to a cone. The bobcat has the ability to move them 180 °.
It has white whiskers, between 7 and 16 on each side of the snout, which are 5 to 8 centimeters long. The tongue is covered with small curved projections called papillae. These are used for grooming and licking meat off bones.
In relation to the teeth, the deciduous begin their eruption between the sixth and seventh week of birth. The permanent ones are present between 175 and 195 days, although for a short time both canines, the milk ones and the permanent ones, could be together in the jaw.
The characteristics of the canines allow the Felis silvestris capture and hold your prey. This is because the upper ones are located in a straight line, while the lower ones are curved. The incisors are small in size and the molars are specialized for cutting meat.
Their eyes are large, with vertically oriented pupils. The iris can be amber, gold, or greenish-yellow. The newborn has them blue and begins to change its color from the seventh week. When the baby is 5 months old, it already has the color of the adult.
This species has tapetum lucidum, a layer of tissue located at the back of the eye. Its function is to reflect light rays, thus increasing the amount of available light. In this way, the photoreceptors act more effectively in the dark. In this feline, the luminosity could be increased by up to 40%.
The size of the legs in the male is 11.5 to 14.7 centimeters, while in the females it can be between 10.5 and 14 centimeters. In the previous ones they have 5 toes and in the later ones 4. The main pad of the foot is trilobed. In relation to the claws, they are sharp and retractable.
The tail can be more than half the length of the body. Thus, in the female it measures from 24 to 36 centimeters and in the male from 23.5 to 35.6 centimeters. This body structure is covered in dense fur, with a blunt black end. In addition, it has 3 to 5 clearly demarcated rings.
The fur of the Felis silvestris it is smooth and short. In general, the background color in the male bobcat is dark gray, while that of the female can be from gray to grayish yellow. Both sexes have a well-defined black stripe pattern.
The characteristics of the coat, as well as the coloration, vary in the subspecies. Thus, the European wild cats (F. s. silvestris) have thick hair, which gives them an appearance of being of a much larger size. The African subspecies (F. s. libyca) it is less dense and of lighter tones than the Europeans.
However, this group inhabits a wide geographic range, so the density and coloration vary according to latitude. So the hair ranges from gray to sandy yellow, with dark spots and stripes. In addition, on the back of the ears they have a reddish color that characterizes them..
As for Asian wild cats (F. s. notatus) usually have a yellow or reddish background, with converging stripes.
These variations are also present in the young. Those that are born in dry habitats tend to be red or light, with indistinct stripes. On the contrary, those that live in humid regions are darker and their spots are very evident..
- Animal Kingdom.
- Subkingdom Bilateria.
- Chordate phylum.
- Vertebrate Subphilum.
- Mammal class.
- Subclass Theria.
- Order Carnivora.
- Family Felidae.
- Subfamily Felinae.
- Genus Felis.
- Species Felis silvestris.
- Felis silvestris cafra.
- Caucasian felis silvestris.
- Felis silvestris vellerosa.
- Felis silvestris caudata.
- Felis silvestris chutuchta.
- Felis silvestris silvestris.
- Felis silvestris cretensis
- Felis silvestris foxi.
- Felis silvestris rubida.
- Felis silvestris gordoni.
- Felis silvestris grampia.
- Felis silvestris ocreata.
- Felis silvestris griselda.
- Felis silvestris haussa.
- Felis silvestris lybica.
- Felis silvestris iraki.
- Felis silvestris jordansi.
- Felis silvestris nesterovi.
- Felis silvestris mellandi.
- Felis silvestris ornata.
- Felis silvestris reyi.
- Felis silvestris tristrami.
- Felis silvestris ugandae.
The bobcat is widely distributed. Mainly inhabits much of Africa, China, India, central and southeast Asia, Europe, and Mongolia.
The African wildcatF. s. lybica) is found north of the African continent, and extends from the Arabian Peninsula to the Caspian Sea, where it shares territory with the Asian wildcat.
In southern Africa it is replaced by F.s.cafra. The separation between these two subspecies, according to biogeographic and morphological evidence, occurs to the southeast, in the area of Mozambique and Tanzania.
In relation to the Asian wildcat (F. s. ornata), lives from the western region of India to the eastern Caspian and from southern Mongolia and western China to Kazakhstan.
Previously, the F. s. silvestris it was widely located in Europe. However, in the mid-1770s and up to 1900 the population of this subspecies decreased considerably, due to its hunting and local extirpation. This resulted in a fragmented distribution.
Recently in some countries the habitat has been expanded. This occurs in the Netherlands, Austria and Italy. However, it is extinct in the Czech Republic.
In the Pyrenees it is distributed from sea level to a height of 2,250 meters. The only island in the Mediterranean populated by the wild bobcat is Sicily.
Felis silvestris inhabits a great diversity of ecosystems, ranging from scrublands and deserts to mixed and dry forests. However, it is absent in coniferous and rain forests.
Thus, it can be found in highlands, hills, moors, rocky and wooded areas. In addition, it requires open spaces, dense bushy vegetation and crevices in the mountains, which could be excellent refuges..
The largest range of home for the female was identified in the desert of the United Arab Emirates, with an area of 52.7 km2. It is one of the most extensive for this species, since in the Kalahari Gemsbok, in South Africa, it occupies between 6 and 10 km2 and in Scotland between 1 and 2 km2.
The European bobcat prefers deciduous, mixed and riparian forests, Mediterranean scrub, edges of swamps, coasts, and areas with sclerophyllous scrub vegetation..
In addition, it lives in the transition strip between the scrub and the forest. Regarding the agricultural habitat, it tends to avoid those of intensive cultivation, preferring, among others, cereal crops.
Those that inhabit Africa are distributed throughout almost the entire continent. However, there is a very scarce population in the desert and they do not live in the tropical forest..
The Asian subspecies is located in regions up to 3000 meters high, in mountainous areas with abundant vegetation. But it is generally associated with scrub desert, in areas close to bodies of water. In that continent, it is absent in the steppe and Andean grasslands.
In some regions where it lives, the population of the Felis silvestris It has decreased. This is why the IUCN considers it necessary to protect this species. Otherwise you could be part of the group that is in serious danger of extinction.
The loss of genetic variability, caused by hybridization with the domestic cat, is a very frequent problem in Europe. Thus, it is known that in the Iberian Peninsula there is a hybridization of 14%.
The results indicate that the mixture between these different species is closely related to various factors. These include the degree of degradation of the natural habitat, the existence of populations of domestic cats and the population density of the bobcat..
In relation to this, in those regions close to urban planning, the rate of the domestic cat is higher than that of the wild cat. In occurs, for example, in the Spanish areas of Madrid, La Mancha, Sierra Morena and Malaga.
Thus, between both species of cats, a close relationship between human pressure and hybridization risks could be inferred. The consequences of this hybridization, being related to variations at the genetic level, are seen in the long term.
However, as this situation has been occurring since ancient times, there is now evidence of the decline in the population of the bobcat..
The disparity in the number of each species results in a high probability of a repeated crossing between the two. This causes the decrease in the genetic purity of the Felis silvestris. According to some research, the genetically pure European wildcat has become extinct due to its frequent hybridization.
In addition, its close relationship with the domestic cat increases the chances of the transmission of various diseases between them..
The contact between the wild cat and the domestic cat results in the appearance of viral diseases, thus constituting a significant risk for the population. Some of these viruses are feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and infectious peritonitis..
In the studies carried out in the organism of Felis silvestris, FIV and FeLV antibodies have been identified against canine distemper and Chlamydophila feli.
Historically, the degradation of the environment caused a dramatic loss of populations of this species in Russia and Europe..
In Spain, the loss of habitat may have led to the disappearance of the wildcat from the agricultural areas of valleys and plateaus of various rivers, such as the Duero, the Guadalquivir and the Ebro..
Some of the factors that cause this destruction of the environment are deforestation and the elimination of bushes, in order to combat forest fires..
In addition, the increase in the change of natural areas by urbanized areas and by intensive cultivation reduces, isolates and notably fragments the populations of this feline.
Also, the Felis silvestris it is threatened by the isolation of its population and by vehicular traffic, since the animal is run over while crossing the roads.
Likewise, ungulates have expanded the area where they live, negatively affecting the availability of prey, among which are rodents and lagomorphs..
Particularly, in the Monfragüe National Park, in Spain, there is an abundant population of wild boars and deer. This results in a decrease in the prey of the wild cat, such as rabbits and rodents..
From this competition for food the Felis silvestris is disadvantaged, which can influence its distribution and abundance.
The use of traps and poison as non-selective methods to control predators, including field rodents and rabbits, is a common practice in various regions..
Thus, the bobcat is trapped in the traps found on abandoned trails or roads, and in most cases dies.
According to some research, this feline is one of the wild carnivores most affected by poisoned baits, after canids. Likewise, accidental poisoning could occur, due to the ingestion of chemical products for industrial or agricultural use..
On the other hand, the Felis silvestris it is directly persecuted by man, as it considers it a threat to its domestic animals. He also hunts it because its fur satisfies some fur markets. The latter constituted in past times an important cause of decline in the population of this species.
This predator is persecuted because it is considered that it competes with man in the hunting of some animals and because it harms the populations of game species. However, this is not completely justified..
In Scotland it was attributed to Felis silvestris the slaughter of lagópods and pheasants. After investigating in this regard, it was found that birds predominate in their diet, so its incidence in the decline of rabbits was not significant.
Conservation measures are aimed at eliminating the factors that cause population decline, both nationally and locally..
Likewise, the wildcat is legally protected in much of its habitat in Asia, Europe and some African ranges..
The European wild cat is considered a protected animal in the Habitats and Species Directive of the European Union. In addition, it is found in Appendix II of the Berne Convention. In the UK it is included in the Wildlife and Countryside Act animal list.
In the Asian continent, it has the protection of the ecological laws in Afghanistan. Likewise, it is part of the controls contemplated in Appendix II of CITES.
Rodents are the group of animals most consumed by the bobcat, reaching high percentage values in almost all regions. Thus, in Switzerland and France they represent more than 95% of the diet of this feline. In Italy they make up 70% of their diet and in Scotland 50%.
In relation to Spain, the proportion is more variable, with a relative frequency of 50% in some regions, while in others it reaches 80% and up to 94%.
As for the most consumed rodent species, this will depend on the temporal and spatial availability in the environment..
Thus, the species belonging to the Microtinos subfamily are consumed in greater quantity in the highlands, where they are abundant, than in the southern ones. Contrarily, it occurs with the Murinos subfamily, which constitute the majority of prey in low latitudes..
The importance of rodents is evident in the diet of the Felis silvestris. However, the rabbit is also a very frequent animal in their diet. In some regions it could even exceed 64% of consumption, as occurs in the south of Spain.
Taking into account its nutritional characteristics, the wild cat could be considered a medical specialist, whose diet will vary according to the availability of the two animals that basically form its diet. But the members of the species could behave differently, in the case of restrictions with prey.
If the mouse and rabbit populations decrease, this species could behave as a trophic generalist. Thus, it complements its diet with other prey, such as shrews, moles, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fawns, fish and invertebrates, mainly arthropods..
They rarely consume carrion and when they do, it is generally sheep or deer. They could also eat grass, possibly as a source of fodder.
The incorporation of these nutritional resources allows the trophic diversity of the Felis silvestris vary geographically and seasonally. In relation to this, during the summer the diet is twice as varied as in the winter, with the exception that there is an abundance of rabbits.
At the continental level, the diversity of food is much greater at low latitudes and in the Mediterranean area, where arthropods and reptiles are abundant. In high latitudes the consumption of large rodents and hares is greater, since in general in that area there is little variety of species.
Hearing and sight are the main senses that this feline uses when hunting. It is generally a solitary animal, but to capture its prey it could form groups. This species hunts on the prowl, waiting for the animal to be within reach. Then with a strong jump it captures it, using its claws.
In the case of small prey, it bites on the nape of the neck, piercing the neck area or occiput using its fangs. If the animal is large, it jumps abruptly on its back and tries to bite the carotid. If the cat escapes, the cat generally does not try to chase it..
In some cases, the bobcat creeps along the ground and when it is close it hunts the animal. You can also climb the trees, to take the eggs and the young that are in the nests.
The female of this species reaches sexual maturity between 1 and 1.5 years, while the male does so at approximately 2.5 years. The female has two periods of estrus, one that runs from December to February and the other from May to July..
The duration of each is 5 to 9 days. In relation to ovulation, it is induced through copulation. Conversely, spermatogenesis occurs throughout the year..
At mating season, males cluster around the female and fight each other aggressively, howling and screaming, to gain access to her. The mating system is polygynous, so a female can mate with several males during the same season..
Breeding could occur at different times of the year. The European wild catF. s. silvestris), they mate in late winter, roughly between January and March. The species that live in Asia reproduce almost all year round and in Africans it occurs from September to March.
As for gestation, it lasts between 56 and 68 days, and at the end of the period, 1 to 8 young are born. In the following video you can hear how a Mauya wild cat is looking for a partner:
Newborns weigh about 65 to 163 grams. They are born blind, but between weeks 10 and 13 they open their eyes, which are blue. In the seventh week, the hue of these begins to change to gold.
In the burrow, they are cared for and suckled by the mother. Along with this, the young begin to hunt when they are two months old and are independent after 150 days of being born..
As for the teeth, the incisors emerge between 14 and 30 days. The milk denture is replaced by the permanent one between 160 and 240 days. Although lactation lasts about 3 to 4 months, the pups eat meat as early as 1.5 months
The wildcat is a solitary animal and only in the mating season does it form a temporary couple. The male can share his territory with three or five females, but does not allow other males in it..
To delimit their area, they urinate in a specific place and scratch the trees. In addition, they deposit the feces in a high place and rub the anal glands against the trunk of the trees and the vegetation..
This species is usually active at night, at dawn or dusk. However, in those areas that are little disturbed by man, they may have some type of activity during the day.
When threatened, instead of climbing a tree, it takes shelter in a burrow. When this shelter is in between the rocks, place in it bird feathers and dry grass. If it is a hole in a tree, it already has sawdust inside, so it does not incorporate any other material to make it more comfortable.
To communicate, he usually does so using visual cues, including wagging his tail, lifting his hair from his back, and making some expressions with his face. In addition, it can vocalize different calls, such as hisses, purrs, howls and a special screech that it uses to calm the young..
The bobcat uses its whiskers as a tactile organ. These are highly sensory and allow the animal to determine if it can pass its body through small openings, such as tubes and crevices..
In addition, the Felis silvestris has an excellent sense of hearing and smell. It can quickly rotate its ears, to detect the source of the sound. Likewise, it has the ability to hear the sounds produced by small rodents, capturing them without the need to see them..
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