By compiling a wildcat catalogue of georeferenced digital photographs from Southwest
Asia, we investigated the plausibility of phenotypically identifying Felis silvestris
caucasica (Caucasian wildcat), Felis lybica ornata (Asiatic wildcat) and Felis
lybica lybica (African wildcat) through external phenotypic traits, in order to verify
their known distribution, and identify any inconsistencies or gaps of knowledge.
With this approach, we expect to move away from depending on wildcat distribution
information being based primarily on expert opinion, and establish a more systematic
approach to determine areas in need of further investigation, survey and monitoring
with robust methods. We identified the Lesser Caucasus as an area containing
possible hybrid individuals between these taxa. Further “ground truthing” may also
be required to understand the distribution ranges of the Caucasian and Asiatic wildcats
in the Caucasus and western Kazakhstan/southern Russia. We suspect their actual
distributions may differ from the information currently published, with a possible
range expansion in the north, as well as an overlap area in the Lesser Caucasus.
The African wildcat was underrepresented in our image collection and therefore
no firm conclusions could be formulated, emphasizing the need for further data.
The wildcat catalogue is available as an online resource, and we emphasize the
importance of such resource compilations, given the ever-increasing flood of digital
imagery. We recommend the use of such tools for identifying areas in need of further
“ground truthing” by means of robust genetic analyses. This plays an important role
in addressing potential conservation concerns, such as the extent of hybridization
between wildcat species, as well as with the domestic cat, the influence and extent
of habitat loss, climate change, and species range shifts.
Figures - uploaded by
Arash GhoddousiAuthor contentAll figure content in this area was uploaded by Arash Ghoddousi
Content may be subject to copyright.