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The Iriomote Cat

The Iriomote Cat is also called a Prionailurus Bengalensis Iriomotensis. The Iriomote cat is classified as a endangered species; the overall population is fewer than 250, is declining, and is being a single subpopulation. As of 2007,there an estimated 100-109 individuals remaining.

Habitat and Shelter The Iriomote cat is indigenous to the Japanese island Iriomote, which sans to 290 square kilometres. The habitat consists predominantly of low mountains300-460 meters with subtropical evergreen forest, including really long belts of mangrove along the waterways. It is the smallest habitat of any wild cat species in the world.

Grow and Develop It is estimated that Iriomote cats live for 7 to 8 years in the wild and 8 to 9 years of captivity. Traffic accidents and traps may lower their lifespan to 2 to 5 years. In captivity, a Iriomote cat lived for a estimated 15 years and month, known as the longest lifespan of any Iriomote cat.The Iriomote Cat's skull is rather different from a house cat' skull. Even though they are both alike.

Food Chain At the top of the island food chain, the Iriomote cat eats everything from small mammals to birds, lizards, snakes, fruit bats, crickets, and crabs. And unusually for a cat, it also hunts frogs.Some scientists are concerned of the Iriomote cat eating frogs because of the risk of chytrid fungus, a deadly frog disease first reported in Japan near Tokyo late last year.

Physical Characteristics A male Iriomote cat can grow up to 55-60 centimeters long and can weigh to 3.5-5 kilograms. Female Iriomote cats are a lot smaller at about 50-55 centimeters long and 3-3.5 kilograms. Their tails from the base to the tip are 23-24 centimetres long. They have quite long torsos and short, thick limbs. Their necks are also very thick, and their shoulders are muscular, though their jumping powers are comparatively weak. Unlike the other cats, their spines cannot bend sharply.

Water Although the Iriomote cat drinks water it is near the watering hole, they can survive for months withuot drunking water. The Iriomote cat's scientific names media type="custom" key="24202330" [|www.wykop.pl]
 * Kingdom: || Animalia ||
 * Phylum: || Chordata ||
 * Class: || Mammalia ||
 * Order: || Carnivora ||
 * Family: || Felidae ||
 * Genus: || //Prionailurus// ||
 * Species: || //P. bengalensis// ||
 * Subspecies: || //**P. b. iriomotensis**// ||