Wildlifeof Nepal
Fishing Cat
Cats
Photo: Cliff · CC BY 4.0
Prionailurus viverrinus
Basic stats
Diet
Mainly fish and other aquatic prey
Habitat
Wetlands, streams and swamps in the Terai
Range
Shuklaphanta, Bardia, Chitwan and Parsa National Parks and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Size
Head and body 57–78cm; tail 20–30cm
Weight
Males 8–17kg; females 5–9kg
The fishing cat is stocky and muscular, with a head and body of 57 to 78cm, a tail of 20 to 30cm and medium to short legs. Males are larger than females, weighing 8 to 17kg, while females average 5 to 9kg. The coat is short and coarse, grey or olive-brown, marked with small black spots and stripes running into lines on the face, back and neck (Wikipedia, general species account).
In the Nepal Terai it has been recorded in Shuklaphanta, Bardia, Chitwan and Parsa National Parks and in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. The cat lives in forest and dense grassland mosaics near water and takes fish as its main prey. The tail is short, about a third of the body length, and the hind feet are modestly webbed. Nationally Endangered (Nepal National Red List 2011).
Quick answers
- What does the Fishing Cat eat?
- Mainly fish and other aquatic prey
- What habitat does the Fishing Cat live in?
- Wetlands, streams and swamps in the Terai
- Where is the Fishing Cat found?
- Shuklaphanta, Bardia, Chitwan and Parsa National Parks and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
- How big is the Fishing Cat?
- Head and body 57–78cm; tail 20–30cm
- How much does the Fishing Cat weigh?
- Males 8–17kg; females 5–9kg