Bornean Clouded Leopard Information
The Bornean Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardi), or Sundaland Clouded Leopard, is a medium-sized wild cat found in Borneo and Sumatra. In 2006, it was classified as a separate species, distinct from its continental relative Neofelis nebulosa.[3][4]
The name Bornean Clouded Leopard was publicised by the WWF on March 14, 2007, quoting Dr. Stephen O'Brien of the U.S. National Cancer Institute as saying, "Genetic research results clearly indicate that the clouded leopard of Borneo should be considered a separate species".[5]
In 2008, the IUCN classified the species as vulnerable, with a total effective population size suspected to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals, and a decreasing population trend.[2]
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Characteristics
The Bornean clouded leopard is the largest felid in Borneo, and has a stocky build, weighing around 12 to 25 kg (26 to 55 lb). With short and flexible legs, large paws, and keen claws, this big cat is very sure-footed. The canine teeth are two inches long, which, in proportion to the skull length, are longer than those of any other extant feline. Its tail can grow to be as long as its body, aiding balance.
Its coat is marked with irregularly-shaped, dark-edged ovals which are said to be shaped like clouds, hence its common name. Though scientists have known of its existence since the early 19th century, it was positively identified as being a distinct species in its own right in 2006, having long been believed to be a subspecies of the mainland Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa).[3][4]
Distribution and habitat
The Bornean clouded leopard is probably restricted to Borneo and Sumatra. In Borneo they occur in lowland rainforest, and at lower density, in logged forest. Records in Borneo are below 1,500 m (4,900 ft). In Sumatra they appear to be more abundant in hilly, montane areas. It is unknown if there are still Bornean clouded leopards on the small Batu Islands close to Sumatra.[2]
The first documented film of the cat was taken in June 2009 in Sabah.[6]
The species was previously found in Java, but has not been recorded there since Neolithic times.[citation needed]
Ecology and behaviour
The habits of the Bornean clouded leopard are largely unknown because of the animal's secretive nature. It is assumed that it is generally a solitary creature.
The clouded leopard hunts mainly on the ground and uses its climbing skills to hide from dangers.[citation needed]
Etymology and taxonomic history
Plate from William Jardine's The Natural History of The Feline, published 1834Despite its name, the Bornean clouded leopard is not closely related to the leopard. The species was named Neofelis diardi in honor of French naturalist and explorer Pierre-Médard Diard. In the 19th century Felis diardii designated the clouded and Bornean clouded leopards, colloquially "Diard's Cat".[7] The local names, "Macan Dahan" in Indonesian and "Harimau Dahan" in Malay (also reported historically in Sumatra), mean "tree branch tiger".[citation needed]
The species was long regarded as a subspecies of the clouded leopard, named Neofelis nebulosa diardi. In December 2006, two articles in the journal Current Biology detailed a strong case for reclassifying and redefining two distinct species of Clouded Leopard:
- Neofelis nebulosa from mainland Asia and
- Neofelis diardi from the Malay archipelago, except Peninsular Malaysia.
A UK study led by Andrew C. Kitchener detailed geographical variations in the clouded leopard, indicating a split of two species. The results of a morphometric analysis of the pelages of fifty-seven clouded leopards sampled throughout the genus' wide geographical range concluded that there were two distinct morphological groups, differing primarily in the size of their cloud markings.[4]
Another study led by Valerie A. Buckley-Beason cited molecular evidence for the species-level distinction of the Clouded Leopard, although the study only used DNA samples from the Bornean population and mainland Asia and not from the Sumatran population. The genetics study found differences in the molecular genetic analyses (mtDNA, nuclear DNA sequences, microsatellite variation, and cytogenetic differences) of the different species of Clouded Leopard.[3] Among the molecular disparities between the two species were thirty-six fixed mitochondrial and nuclear nucleotide differences and 20 microsatellite loci with nonoverlapping allele-size ranges.[3] The study stated that the degree of differentiation was similar to the differences between the five panthera species, thus concluding that Neofelis diardi is a separate species from Neofelis nebulosa.[3]
Evolutionary history
The genetic analysis of Neofelis nebulosa and Neofelis diardi suggest the two species diverged 1.4 million years ago, after the animals used a now submerged land bridge to reach Borneo and Sumatra from mainland Asia.[8]
Conservation
Because the Bornean Clouded Leopard's habits make it difficult to study, exact figures of its population do not exist. However, recent studies and filming (Dr Robert Martin) estimate the population to be between 5,000 and 11,000 great cats left in Borneo, and 3,000 to 7,000 in Sumatra.[5] In the countries of its native range, hunting of the clouded leopard is prohibited.[citation needed] However, these bans are very poorly enforced.
A recent study conducted in 2006, focusing on classifying tracks found in Sabah (northeastern Borneo), placed an estimate on the population: 1,500–3,200 cats in Sabah, with only 275–585 of them in large protected reserves.[9]
Encroachment upon and complete destruction of the Bornean clouded leopards' natural habitat, primarily by logging and the creation of rubber and palm oil plantations, continues to threaten the whole fauna of Borneo.
See also
References
- ^ Wozencraft, W. Christopher (16 November 2005). "Order Carnivora (pp. 532-628)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 546. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
- ^ a b c Hearn, A., Sanderson, J., Ross, J., Wilting, A. and Sunarto, S. (2008). Neofelis diardi. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 18 January 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Buckley-Beason, V.A., Johnson, W.E., Nash, W.G., Stanyon, R., Menninger, J.C., Driscoll, C.A., Howard, J., Bush, M., Page, J.E., Roelke, M.E., Stone, G., Martelli, P., Wen, C., Ling, L.; Duraisingam, R.K., Lam, V.P., O'Brien, S.J. (5 December 2006). "Molecular Evidence for Species-Level Distinctions in Clouded Leopards". Current Biology 16 (23): 2371–2376. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2006.08.066. PMID 17141620.
- ^ a b c Kitchener, A.C., Beaumont, M.A., Richardson, D. (5 December 2006). "Geographical Variation in the Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, Reveals Two Species". Current Biology 16 (23): 2377–2383. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2006.10.066. PMID 17141621.
- ^ a b "New Species Declared: Clouded Leopard found on Borneo and Sumatra". ScienceDaily. 15 March 2007. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070315075842.htm. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ^ Mohamed, A. and Wilting, A. (2009) Sundaland Clouded leopard Neofelis diardi. Filmed at Deramakot Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia. Conservation of Carnivores in Sabah online
- ^ George Ripley (1858). The New American Cyclopedia. D. Appleton and Company. pp. 543. http://books.google.com/?id=pN_CQOaQi-oC&pg=RA7-PA543&lpg=RA7-PA543&dq=diard's+cat.
- ^ Lewis Smith (14 March 2007). "After 200 years, a new big cat comes out of the jungle". London: Times Online. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1517044.ece. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
- ^ Wilting, A., Fischer, F., Abu Bakar, S. and Linsenmair, K. E. (2006). "Clouded leopards, the secretive top-carnivore of South-East Asian rainforests: their distribution, status and conservation needs in Sabah, Malaysia". BMC Ecol. 6 (16): 16. doi:10.1186/1472-6785-6-16. PMID 17092347. PMC 1654139. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1654139.
External links
| Wikispecies has information related to: Neofelis diardi |
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Neofelis diardi |
- Borneo Clouded Leopard Classified as New Species The Clouded Leopard Project (March 16, 2007)
- Clouded leopard: First film of new Asia big cat species BBC Earth News (February 10, 2010)
- Bornean Clouded Leopard
- BBC Article on Clouded Leopard, Retrieved March, 2007
- MSN media/video, Retrieved March 19, 2007
- Clouded leopards, the secretive top-carnivore of South-East Asian rainforests: their distribution, status and conservation needs in Sabah, Malaysia
- National Geographic
- Daily Mail
Categories: IUCN Red List vulnerable species | Pantherinae | Mammals of Southeast Asia
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