Marbled
cats of Asia have been compared to small clouded leopards Neofelis nebulosa,
as both bear the distinctive marbling pattern on their coats, with the
combination of large, irregular shaped dark blotches, margined with black.
Genetic studies of this cats blood serum, shows that it shares an identical
karyotype with Lynx, Panthera and Uncia, leaving this cats evolutionary
history somewhat of a taxonomic puzzle. Perhaps, this little cat is similar
in form to the forest ancestors of the big cats some 10 million years ago
(Collier and O’Brien, 1985). However, it may have also diminished in
size more recently due to competition with other big cats.
Zoological name: Pardofelis marmorata
Presence on the planet: Marbled cats have been found in tropical
forests from Nepal through southeast Asia to Borneo and Sumatra, but its
presence in parts of the area is known only from single observations. It is
thought to spend a lot of its time in trees where it is difficult to see and
it may be more widely distributed than is at present known.
P. m. marmorata is the southern subspecies from Malaysia and Borneo.
Physical description: Superficially, the marbled cat looks like a
smaller version of the clouded leopard. The ecology of the two species is
very similar. Although both are closely related to the large or Panthera
cats, the face of the marbled cat is more reminiscent of a small cat than is
that of the clouded leopard. The tail of the smaller cat is far more bushy.
One character which the marbled cat shares with the clouded leopard is very
long canine teeth. Thick and soft, the fur of the marbled cat is
brownish-yellow, covered in large blotches which are paler in their centres
and margined with black. There are black spots on the limbs and some black
lines on the head and neck. Interrupted bands run from the inner corner of
each eye over the head.
