Felis bieti, Milne-Edwards, 1892

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2009, Felidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 1 Carnivores, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 54-168 : 166-167

36.

Chinese Mountain Cat

Felis bieti

French: Chat de Mongolie / German: Graukatze / Spanish: Gato chino de montana

Other common names: Chinese Desert Cat, Pale Desert Cat

Taxonomy. Felis bieti Milne-Edwards, 1892 ,

Sichuan, China.

Proposed races chutuchta and wvellerosa are placed in present spcies by some authors while others consider that they belong to FE silvestris . Monotypic.

Distribution. As yet not well defined but reported from Quinghai, Sichuan and Gansu, in C China.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 68.5-84 cm, tail 32.1-35 cm. A wild-caught male weighed 9 kg, a female 6-5 kg. Like a stocky domestic cat with relatively short legs. Nearly uniform coloration, generally lacking any stripes or spots on flanks. Coat pale yellowish-gray in winter, somewhat darker and marked with blown flecks in summer. Faint, dark stripes on outside of hindand forelimbs. Ears are adorned with short dark tufts and are yellow-gray on the back. Fur on soles of feet is long and protrudes between the pads. Tail is marked with 5-6 dark gray bands and tail-tip is black.

Habitat. While its name suggests it is an inhabitant of mountainous terrain, a recent survey in western Sichuan Province, China, found it was restricted to high elevation steppe grasslands. There was no evidence that the cat lived in true desert or forested mountains. Has been recorded from elevations of 2500-4100 m.

Food and Feeding. Rodents such as White-tailed Pine Voles and Mole Rats are the main prey. Pikas and birds ( Phasianidae ) are also taken.

Activity patterns. Nocturnal in captivity and thought to be nocturnal-crepuscular in the wild. Rests in burrows during the day.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nothing known.

Breeding. Mating occurs from January-March and most young are born in May. Birth dens are in burrows, typically situated on south-facing slopes. Litter size is probably 2—4.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. There is no information on status or abundance. Unstudied in the wild. Fully protected in China, but pelts of this species are commonly found in markets.

Bibliography. Allen (1938), Anon. (1986), Chen et al. (2005), Corbet (1978), Gao et al. (1987), Groves (1980), Guggisberg (1975), Haltenorth (1953), He et al. (2004), Hemmer et al. (1976), Liao (1988), Nowell & Jackson (1996), Sunquist & Sunquist (2002), Tan Bangjie (1984), Wang Sung (1990), Wang Zongyi & Wang Sung (1986).

Figures

33. Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), 34. Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes), 35. Sand Cat (Felis margarita), 36. Chinese Mountain Cat (Felis bieti), 37. Wildcat (Felis silvestris)

Distribution. As yet not well defined but reported from Quinghai, Sichuan and Gansu, in C China .