Sightings of the Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1831) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in Saurashtra Peninsula, Gujarat, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9708.17.11.27985-27991Keywords:
Asiatic Lion Landscape, distribution, Gir, natural history, protected ares, roadkills, small wild cat, threatsAbstract
We document 31 sightings of the Rusty-spotted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus in the Asiatic Lion Landscape in Gujarat, India, in the period 2016–2024. Twenty-seven sightings occurred in Junagadh District, three in Amreli District and one in Gir Somnath District. Live individuals were observed in 21 incidents and dead ones in 10 incidents, including nine road kills. A total of 17 sightings (54.84%) occurred in revenue land, agricultural land and unclassified forest areas; 14 sightings (45.16%) occurred in protected areas, including seven in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, six in Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and one in Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary. We observed Rusty-spotted Cats in trees on nine occasions. We discuss general distribution within Gujarat, and the negative impact of road networks being a threat to the species.
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