RUSTY SPOTTED CAT (Prionailurus rubiginosus)

The smallest of the wildcats, it is the size of a small house cat. It has a rust coloured faintly spotted body with four forehead stripes with distinct striping on the legs, especially on the underside. The tail is faintly marked with rings. It lives in a variety of habitats including dry scrub forest and moist forests and is nocturnal. It is thought that small rodents make up a significant part of its diet.

Distribution: Present in pockets throughout Sri Lanka and India.

Status: Endangered (National Conservation Status); Vulnerable (Global Conservation Status)