Black-footed cat: description, lifestyle and reproduction

The black-footed cat is one of those predators that are still poorly understood. Its Latin species name is Felis nigripes. The cat's habitat is limited to some states in southern Africa. These include South Africa, Namibia, part of Angola and Zimbabwe. The livelihood of the animal in Botswana remains questionable. Previously, they lived there, but there is no modern evidence for this.

Small predator

The blackfoot cat is the smallest predator of the cat family on the African continent. The species received this name thanks to 4 black strips on the soles of the feet of these animals. In winter, the color of the individuals becomes paler. Sexually mature male is not longer than 50 cm, and female is 40 cm. The size of the tail is from 8 to 20 cm. The weight of the adult is 1.5 to 2.5 kg. In the world there are only two cats, comparable to the black-footed in size (Chilean and rusty).

Many legends are composed of the nature of this predator. Separate tribes of Bushmen believe that the animal can kill a giraffe. There are many exaggerations in legends, but observations show that kittens from the birth show a hunting nature. There are witnesses of how a wild black-legged cat had long waited in an ambush for an ostrich sitting on a nest, which weighed 80 kg. A moment before the predator leap, the bird rose and ran away. One foot was bigger than a cat.

How the Black-footed Cat Hunts

Black-footed cat (photo shows it) has a protective color and prefers hunting for the dark time of the day. So it's easier for her to escape from enemies and stealthily sneak up on the prey. Ears have rounded outlines and a large size for better perception of quiet and distant sounds. The eyes of a predator are adapted to night hunting. Tapetum - a special layer, permeated with blood vessels, which is behind the retina. It reflects light, allowing the cat to see perfectly in the dark. Vision is getting better, and the effect of glowing in the dark with blue eyes is created.

The black-legged cat was popularly called "ant tiger". Such fame went because of the predator's habit of living in empty termitaries and burrows of other animals. Their desire for hunting can only be envied. Overnight cats are able to overcome about 16 km, searching for the future victim (small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects). During this time, she makes many jumps for prey with an interval of about 30 minutes. More than 60% of them end for mining deplorable.

Hunting excitement

A black-footed cat does not know fear during a hunt and confidently attacks a prey that is twice as large as her own. Among the victims may even be a hare or a black bustard. If the prey can not be eaten at a time, the remains are dragged to the hole, where the predator will return later. Admits the ability of a cat to survive in harsh desert conditions.

Predator, along with other inhabitants of this area, has the ability not to drink for a long time. At this time, moisture enters the body only from the meat of the victims eaten. Not every predator of deserts can hunt 54 species of animals. "Ants tiger" likes to dig and in the found remains.

Reproduction

Cats live in isolation all the time, except for the breeding season. The territory of males ranges from 12 to 15 km ² . It has intersections with sections of females. The controlled areas are carefully labeled. Predators are found only for mating, after which they part. Males do not participate in raising kittens. A black-legged cat breeds offspring for 63-68 days. Kittens are born pink. They are practically devoid of hair, appear one or two at a time.

Completely woolen cover grows in kittens only at the age of 6 weeks, before this period they are fed by mother's milk. In the middle of this period, the animals begin to explore the neighborhood. When a dangerous situation arises, they do not run home, but run up and hide in the first shelter they find. Kittens freeze and wait for the moment when they will be called mother.

At the age of 5 weeks, the young begin to receive live prey from the female. She does this to provide an opportunity for the younger generation to learn about hunting and killing victims. By the 7th-8th week, the cubs themselves extract food.

The threat of extinction

Nobody specially hunts a black-footed cat, however predators die under the influence of poisons and traps, placed on jackals and other animals. Domestic cattle knock out pastures, which become unsuitable for cats. The consequences of this are the heaviest - the number of species is steadily declining.

Cases of crossing with domestic cats are recorded. The appearance of hybrids leads to the degeneration of the population. The animal is in the International Red Book.

Artificial reproduction

Black-legged cat at home feels uncomfortable, she needs room. However, in 2011 in New Orleans two kittens were born, who do not know about their uniqueness. Their cat became a surrogate mother . The male sperm was first frozen and then sent to New Orleans, where it was connected to the egg of a black-footed cat. An embryo was obtained, which was frozen for 6 years.

The material was thawed and placed on a surrogate mother. Pregnancy lasted 69 days, and as a result, two kittens were born. They became the first representatives of the species that were born from a frozen embryo. Black-legged cat at home resembles the usual. It is worth remembering that populations in the natural habitat are shrinking. In zoos of all countries there are only about 40 individuals, 19 of them in the territory of the United States of America.