Pin It
MNN.COM›Earth Matters›

Wilderness & Resources

Flat-headed cat, the world's least known feline, is now endangered

This strange but adorable feline, with webbed feet and a streamlined head, is threatened by encroaching biofuel plantations in its native habitat.

By Bryan NelsonTue, Mar 23 2010 at 5:09 AM EST
 10

MADE TO SWIM: The flat-headed cat is designed for hunting in the water, and its diet consists mostly of crabs and fish. (Photo: Jim Sanderson/Wiki Commons/CC License)
If you believe the myth that all cats hate getting wet, then you've yet to meet the flat-headed cat. With webbed feet and a streamlined head perfectly adapted for speed in the water, these strange felines not only like the water, they practically live in it. They are also recognized as the world's least known feline.
 
And unfortunately, they may remain mysterious. According to National Geographic, a new study published in the journal PLoS ONE has indicated that the flat-headed cat's habitat is rapidly being transformed into vast biofuel plantations.
 
Native to the swampy peat forests of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, the cats are nocturnal, elusive, tiny (they typically weigh between 3-5 pounds) and difficult to observe. There are also only two flat-headed cats in captivity anywhere in the world — both in zoos in Malaysia — so little is known about them.
 
To get an idea of how their population was faring, researchers pieced together scattered records of flat-headed cat sightings since 1984. They also developed a computer model to predict how the cat's historical population and distribution might be effected by modern changes to their habitat.
 
What they found was shocking. Almost 70 percent of the area that historically provided good habitats for the flat-headed cat has already been converted into plantations, mostly for the purpose of growing biofuel. Furthermore, their remaining range has become fragmented, likely making it difficult for remote populations of the cat to breed with one another. Only 16 percent of that leftover land is currently contained within areas that are protected according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
 
Thus, with an estimated baseline population of only around 2,500 individuals to start with, it's likely that the flat-headed cat is in dire straits.
 
The cat's predicament is not unique in the region where it lives. Tropical Southeast Asia has both one of the highest rates of biodiversity and highest rates of deforestation worldwide. Much of that deforestation is for the purpose of planting palms, a cash crop destined for the biofuel market.
 
Andreas Wilting of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, who co-authored the new study, hopes that new awareness surrounding the plight of the flat-headed cat can help bring about protections for all species threatened in the region.
 
"The next step is to gain further information about the ecology of this little known species and to enforce the protection and thus ensure the sustainability of the key remaining forest habitats," Wilting said.
 
Thus, the ultimate fate of the flat-headed cat may rest on whether this unknown but charismatic feline can break into the mainstream.
CLOSE link:
You might also like:
Related Topics: Animals, Biodiversity, Biofuels, Endangered Species, Habitats

Comments

Follow this conversation
Add your comment
View:

anonymous
JD 07/28/2011 08:42 AM

There's something strange about the sentence, "They are also recognized as the world's least known feline."

But they do sound awesome.

anonymous
Mini Manicme 07/25/2011 12:41 PM

Only 2,600 individuals left? This cat is doomed, unless a few individuals are brought back to zoos, and their DNA frozen. Since the areas they inhabit are definitely going to disappear, perhaps we should corral all of them until an area can be found for a new home. How sad that man, in his quest for a comfortable life, does so NOT have the courage and wisdome to do without, that he kills everything else. This world will be a better place without humans.

anonymous
Nicole 05/27/2010 09:23 AM

I'm sure you meant "affected" rather than what was written "..distribution might be effected by modern...", which has the opposite sense.

anonymous
Seb 04/19/2010 08:29 AM

In 1984, biofuels were not here. It is misleading to claim this if for biofuels the cat is getting threatened. All your daily products are full of palm oil, from soap to ready-made food. The timber industry hides behind the palm trees to get easier concessions as well...
Agreed that biofuels add to the pressure but you may prohibit biodiesel and end up with the same results. So don't miss the right target!

anonymous
qwwww1234 02/19/2011 10:34 AM

In 1984, biofuels were not here. It is misleading to claim this if for biofuels the cat is getting threatened. All your daily products are full of palm oil, from soap to ready-made food. The timber industry hides behind the palm trees to get easier concessions as well...
coursework | term paper | research paper | .... More

anonymous
Nunuv Yerbiznezz 04/07/2010 15:36 PM

Domesticate them and offer them as pets.

anonymous
patibug 03/31/2010 13:32 PM

Does this particular feline have a better name than "Flat-Headed-Cat"? I think its a beautiful animal and would like to find out more too.

anonymous
Anonymous 07/19/2011 16:49 PM

Yes.
The scientific name is Prionailurus planiceps

anonymous
liz 03/27/2010 16:08 PM

I think you mean "affected." :~)

anonymous
Pedant 03/27/2010 11:37 AM

Is that the opposite of dire curves? I think you're looking for the term 'dire straits'. :)

Add your comment

Sign in with one of these accounts or just add your comment below.
Used only for emailed comments and will not be displayed with your post
Notify me with an email when other people comment on this article.
The posting of advertisement, profanity or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our Terms of Use

tease to unsolved mysteries

tease to pet rescue

tease to fuel-efficient cars

ADVERTISEMENT

TOP MEMBERSJoin Now
All members

ADVERTISEMENT