Ghoddousi et al. ARASH GHODDOUSI1*, AMIRHOSSEIN KH. HAMIDI2, TAHER GHADIRIAN2 AND SAEEDEH of wildcat taken far from human landscapes BANI’ASSADI3 were taken into account to reduce the chance of making any false judgments based on feral The status of wildcat in Iran - or hybrid individuals. a crossroad of subspecies? Description The wildcat, which is known to be the an- The wildcat Felis silvestris is one of the least-known felid species of Iran with lim- cestor of domestic cats, is classified as a ited information on its taxonomy, distribution, ecology and threats available. In this polytypic wild species with up to five inter- paper, for the first time we conducted a review on the literature and other avail- fertile subspecies in Asia, Europe and Africa able resources to create baseline information for future research and conservation. (Driscoll et al. 2007). There is no agreement Also, we gathered recent records of wildcat presence from across the country. By on how to relate geographical variations to analysing 57 images of this species, contrary to earlier beliefs, wildcat in Iran ap- the morphology and genetics of wildcat to pears to solely belong to the Asian (ornata) subspecies. However, future genetic its taxonomy and systematic (Kitchener & analyses are essential to backup this finding and to clarify the taxonomic status Rees 2009). The situation is also confusing of wildcats in south-west Asia. Wildcat was recorded in 27 out of 31 provinces of in Iran, since it is located at a crossroad of Iran, in a variety of natural habitats to the vicinity of human landscapes, except for distribution ranges of up to three different extremely high altitudes or deserts. Two newly established provinces (Alborz and subspecies of wildcats: African F. s. lybica, Qom) are suspected to have wildcat populations, but lacked any reports. However, Asian F. s. ornata and European F. s. silvestris there have been no historical or recent records from Gilan and Mazandaran Prov- (Driscoll et al. 2007). Wildcats of Iran are sug- inces, which are mainly covered by the Hyrcanian forests. The reason behind such gested to have different coat patterns, cate- distribution pattern requires further investigations. Road accidents, poaching as a gorising them into different subspecies in the retaliatory action against poultry depredation and by-catch in illegal snares are the past (Ziaie 2008). However, in this paper for main reported threats to the existence of wildcats in the country. Potential threats the first time, the status of wildcat in Iran has from shared diseases and hybridisation with domestic cats are unknown and needs been reviewed systematically and by com- further research. parison of 57 images of wildcats from across the country, they all morphologically appear 60 We conducted a review on the status, distri- biologists, DoE officers, rangers, camera to belong to the ornata subspecies or Asiatic bution and ecology of wildcats in Iran by us- trapping projects, wildlife photographers, wildcats (U. Breitenmoser, A. Kitchener & N. ing scientific and grey literature, information zoos and museums for identification of sub- Yamaguchi pers. comm.). This is contradictory databases, IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group species existing in Iran by comparison of to the latest mtDNA genetic study by Driscoll library, websites and technical reports to cre- coat patterns. Also, images of wildcat from et al. (2007), which had considered the Asian ate baseline information for future research neighbouring countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, subspecies to extend to the east of the Cas- and conservation. Also, we gathered recent Iraq and Turkey) were gathered. The images pian Sea. However, in that study there were records of wildcat presence from provincial were then cross checked with a number of re- no genetic samples from Iran. Further genetic offices of Department of Environment DoE searchers specialized in wildcat biology and analyses are essential to backup these find- and conservation projects throughout the coat patterns (U. Breitenmoser, A. Kitchener ings, to help clarify the taxonomic status of country. We collected wildcat images from & N. Yamaguchi pers. comm.). Only photos wildcat in south-west Asia. Wildcat images from Iran show that they have tawny-grey, light grey or sand-coloured pelage, marked distinctly with spots, which is typical for the ornata subspecies. They differ from other wildcat subspecies mainly in their black or red-brown spots (Fig. 1). The spots are sometimes fused into stripes (Nowell & Jackson 1996), especially on the flanks. Asi- atic wildcats have small body size comparing to the other wildcat subspecies weighing between 3-4 kg, with females smaller than males (Table 1; Nowell & Jackson 1996). They have a long, tapering tail, always with a short black tip, and with spots at the base. The forehead has a pattern of four well-de- veloped black bands. A small but pronounced tuft of hair up to one cm long grows from the tip of each ear. Paler forms of Asiatic wild- cat live in drier areas and the darker, more Fig. 1. An Asiatic wildcat from Naeen, Isfahan Province. (Photo Hossein Akbari). heavily spotted and striped forms occur in CATnews Special Issue 10 Autumn 2016 wildcat more humid and wooded areas. The throat and ventral surface are whitish to light grey Felis silvestris to cream, often with distinct white patches on the throat, chest and belly. Throughout Names: its range the Asiatic wildcat’s coat is usually Gorbe Vahshi IUCN Red List: short, but the length of the fur can vary de- Wildcat, Wild cat Least Concern (2015) pending on the age of the animal and the sea- CITES: son of the year. Compared to domestic cat, Head and body length: Appendix II Asiatic wildcats have relatively longer legs. 45-80 cm Tail length: Country Red List (or sim- Status, distribution and development of 25-38 cm ilar listings): the population Weight: Non-protected species The wildcat has the widest distribution among 2.5-5 kg by Iranian Department of all the felid family in the world (Macdonald & EnvironmentI Loveridge 2010) with the Asiatic subspecies Global Population: occurring from Iran to India in the south and N/A Photo S. B. Musavi Photo S. B. Mongolia and Russia to the east and north. Iranian Population: Some recent discoveries through camera trap N/A photos reveal the presence of the oranta sub- species of wildcat in the Caucasus (Armania Distribution in Iran: and Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan), Iraq’s Kurd- Widespread throughout istan and south-east Turkey (Batur Avgan & Iran, with limited reports Igor Khorozyan pers. comm.). Nowell & Jack- from Caspian forests and son (1996) based on Ognev (1930) suggested arid deserts that the west of Iran and the Caucasus are the transitional zones between the three sub- species of wildcat; however, it appears that the transition line needs to be revised and (Caspian) forests of Gilan and Mazandaran Wildcat presence has been confirmed in 61 moved further west. Provinces in the north of Iran. There is no 27 out of 31 Provinces of Iran with possible In Iran, wildcats occupy different types of recent report of this species in the area and occurrence of wildcat in the two newly es- habitat, almost throughout the country and historical data are also lacking. Surprisingly, tablished Provinces Alborz and Qom (Fig. 4). are only absent from northern Iran (Fig. 2). wildcat is present in Golestan National Park Presence of wildcat in the remaining two There is not enough data to clarify wheth- NP and further west in Golestan Province, Provinces, Gilan and Mazandaran, is doubtful er the distribution range of wildcat has which is the easternmost extent of the Hyrca- and needs further research (see above). Wild- changed dramatically in the past. However, nian forests (Fig. 3). The reason behind such cat can be found up to an elevation of 2,000- as the wildcat is widespread throughout a distribution pattern needs further investiga- 3,000 (Heptner & Sludskii, 1992). Because of the country (except the mentioned areas), tion. It has been suggested that competition the wide range of wildcat habitats in Iran, it the range seems not to have been reduced with jungle cat Felis chaus in the Caspian for- is difficult to identify a prime habitat for this recently. Wildcat occupies the largest range ests is the cause of absence of this species in species in the country. It has been reported among the felids of Iran. There is no estimate this highly productive forest habitat of north- from 39 of the 140 reserves of DoE (Darvish- on population size of wildcat in Iran, and it ern Iran (B. Nussberger, pers. comm.). How- sefat 2006). However, it is likely that they seems that it is present in suitable habitats. ever, jungle cat is also present in Golestan NP have been overlooked in many reserves. Be- There is no information on population trend. and the rest of Golestan Province. Wildcat cause of its plasticity in habitat preference, it However, Ziaie (2008) claims that the wild- coexists with high number of other predator appears that slight habitat changes might not cat population has declined in most of Iran. species in a variety of habitats (e.g. brown influence the survival of this species. Wild- Poaching related to livestock predation, road bear Ursus arctos, leopard Panthera pardus, cats are often reported in the vicinity of hu- accidents and by-catch in illegal traps are cheetah Acinonyx jubatus, wolf Canis lupus, man landscapes throughout Iran, depredating among the main causes of loss in population etc.). There is not much understanding of the on domestic poultry (Etemad 1985). of wildcat in Iran. role of these species in regard to the distribu- All the wildcat photos from the different Prov- tion pattern of wildcat in Iran.