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| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia and Malaysia |
| Region | Borneo |
| Habitat | Forest |
The Bornean red carnivore[1] or cat-fox is a possible new species of carnivore discovered on the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo.
Discovery
[edit]It was first discovered by Swiss-based environmental group WWF in April 2003[1], using a night-time camera trap in Kayan Mentarang National Park.
Description
[edit]The mammal is slightly larger than a domestic cat, with red fur, a long tail, and hind legs that are longer than the front legs. Its overall appearance is something between a cat and a fox. In some ways it resembles the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) of Madagascar.
The WWF plans to set traps to capture and study the animal. If this proves to truly be a new species, it will be the first new carnivore discovered on Borneo since the Bornean ferret-badger (Melogale everetti) in 1895.
Similar species
[edit]Other new mammals are discovered in Borneo with some regularity, for example the rodent Pithecheirops otion in 1993 and the bat Myotis gomantongensis in 1998. Some researchers have speculated that the animal in the photographs is a known (but exceedingly rare) species, Hose's palm civet (Diplogale hosei).[2]
However, a 2007 analysis suggests the animal photographed may not be a carnivoran after all, but one of the area's large flying squirrels of the genus Aeromys, possibly Thomas's flying squirrel (A. thomasi).[3] Other skeptics claim that it may be a red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista).
The Corsican wildcat, endemic to the French island of Corsica, has also been referred to as a "cat-fox", being a literal translation of the animal's Corsican name, ghjattu volpe.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Factsheet: Bornean Red Carnivore from Kayan Mentarang National Park, Indonesia". 26 January 2006.
- ^ Chapron, G.; Veron, G.; Jennings, A. (2006). "New carnivore species in Borneo may not be new" (PDF). Oryx. 40 (2): 138 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Meijaard, Erik; Kitchener, Andrew C.; Smeenk, Chris (October 2006). "'New Bornean carnivore' is most likely a little known flying squirrel". Mammal Review. 36 (4): 318–324. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2006.00089.x. ISSN 0305-1838.
- ^ "Mysterious 'cat-fox' believed to be a myth is finally discovered on Mediterranean island". news.com.au. June 20, 2019.
External links
[edit]- BBC story covering the species' discovery
- Guardian UK story covering the species' discovery
- MSNBC's story
- News article calling it a cat-fox
- WWF - Mysterious carnivore discovered in Borneo's forests
- That's no mystery carnivore part 1
- That's no mystery carnivore part 2