Food Habit Analysis of the Amur Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus in the Russian Far East

Abstract

The ecology of the Amur leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) has not been studied enough, especially in the Russian Far East. This study presents the food habits of the Amur leopard cat, based on the analysis of scat samples collected in the Primorsky Region of Russia. Mammals and birds had the highest contribution in the diet (89.3 and 30.6% frequency of occurrence, respectively). Rodents had an important role in the diet of the leopard cat throughout the year. The proportion of birds and poikilothermic animals increased during the snow-free season. The total list of animals recorded to be consumed by the leopard cat is presented, consisting of 63 species (seven fishes, eight amphibians, one reptile, 21 birds, and 26 mammals).