European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) looks like a large domestic tabby cat, but with a broader head and darker fur. A long, thick coat, broad head and comparatively flat face give it the appearance of a large, powerful cat, much more robust than the domestic cat or the African wildcat.
Looks are deceiving, however, as European wildcats typically weigh 3 to 6 kilograms, about the same as African wildcats. The European wildcat is a compact animal with comparatively short legs and tail that usually exceeds half of its head and body length.
The African wildcat, formerly known as Felis libyca, would be the ancestor and it is now considered to belong to the same widely distributed species as the European wildcat (F. silvestris) and its Asian relatives (formerly F. ocreata).
The European wildcat is found in the north and east of Europe, also in the Scottish Highlands. It is a forest dweller and has a yellowish-grey fur with black markings.
Though European wildcats eat a variety of small prey, there are numerous reports indicating that these cats are primarily rodent catchers. They do, however, also feed on larger animals, such as hares, rabbits and young deer.
European wildcat
Popular Posts
-
Porcupines rank among the world’s most widely recognized animals. Among local rodents, porcupines are second in size only to the beaver. The...
-
Badgers are carnivores of the family Mustelidae , which also includes weasels, ermines, minks, ferrets, skinks, otter, and wolverines. The...
-
Sumatran tiger is the last remaining tiger of Indonesia. Indonesia used to be home to three kinds of tigers: the Bali tiger, the Java tige...
-
Squirrels are hoppers like rabbits, but they normally leave two sets of paired tracks, one in front of the other, with prints from the large...
-
Prairie dogs are burrowing, colonial mammals that belong to the genus Cynomys of the squirrel family. Other members of the squirrel family i...