| Monsilvan mountain cat | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Felinae |
| Genus: | Felis |
| Species: | F. nanti |
The Monsilvan mountain cat (Felis nanti), also known as Nantou cat, is a small wild Felis species with sand-coloured fur, faint dark stripes on the face and legs and black tipped ears. It is endemic to southern and western Monsilva, where it lives in the steep grasslands of the Nantou and Shannan mountain ranges. It has been listed as near-threatened on the IUCN Red List since 2004. As one of Monsilva's national animals, they are highly protected in Monsilvan conservation laws. Possession of the fur or hide of a Monsilvan mountain cat can result in up to 5 years in prison, and hunting one can result in up to 15 years in prison.
Taxonomy and phylogeny
The scientific name Felis nanti was given by mammologists in 1892 who rescued an individual Monsilvan mountain cat that had gotten trapped after a landslide. They gave the name nanti after Nantou, where they had found the cat. It was briefly provisionally classified as a wildcat subspecies under the name F. silvestris nanti from 1999 to 2008. However it has been recognized as a valid species again since 2008 as it is morphologically distinct from wildcats.
The Monsilvan mountain cat belongs to an evolutionary Felis lineage that is estimated to have had a common ancestor with the Ostlandet wildcat around 1.5 million years ago. Some gene flow from Monsilvan mountain cats to domestic cats (F. catus) in a few areas of the Chahe Valleys is estimated to have happened between the 1960s and 2000s.
Characteristics
The Monsilvan mountain cat has sand-coloured fur with dark guard hairs. Faint dark horizontal stripes on the face and legs are hardly visible. Its ears have black tips. It has a relatively broad skull, and long hair growing between the pads of their feet. It is whitish on the belly, and its legs and tail bear black rings. The tip of the tail is black. It is 69–84 cm (27–33 in) long in head and body with a 29–41 cm (11–16 in) long tail. Adults weigh from 6.5–9 kg (14–20 lb).
Distribution and habitat
The Monsilvan mountain cat is endemic to Monsilva and lives in the Nantou and Shannan mountains. It was recorded only in Xishanjia, Wuzhong and Weishi.
It inhabits high-elevation steppe grassland, alpine meadow, alpine shrubland and coniferous forest edges between 1,500 and 4,000 m (4,900 and 13,100 ft) elevation. Despite its fur resembling a desert environment, it has not been discovered to have inhabited desert like regions in central Ostlandet throughout history.
The first photographs of a wild Monsilvan mountain cat were taken in 1954. They are often spotted by walkers on hiking trails throughout the mountains where the species inhabits. Many are resident at Monsilva's zoos, all of which are also animal conservation societies. All captive Monsilvan mountain cats were born in captivity, as capturing wild animals in Monsilva is illegal. Other countries are permitted to have Monsilvan mountain cats that have been born in captivity, however they cannot be transported by aircraft or ship. As of 2024, only four other countries have Monsilvan mountain cats in captivity.
Ecology and behaviour
The Monsilvan mountain cat is active at night and preys on pikas, rodents and birds. It breeds between January and March. Females give birth to two to four kittens in a secluded burrow.
Conservation
Felis nanti is protected in Monsilva by acts such as the Animal Protection Act and the Humane Captivity of Animals Act. It has been listed as a near threatened species on the IUCN Red List since 2004 and is included in the list of National First-Class Protected Animals and is a federally-protected animal due to its status as one of Monsilva's national animals. It therefore carries the highest punishments for hunting, intentionally injuring or possession of any part of the animal under Monsilvan law, along with animals such as the giant panda and the blue pheasant.