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Order : CARNIVORA
Family : Felidae
Species : Neofelis diardi
Head-body length : 61-106 cm
Tail length : 55-91 cm
Weight : 12-25 kg
The Sunda, or Sundaland,
Clouded Leopard inhabits tall, primary forest, but appears able to survive
in areas of partly logged forest, albeit in lower numbers. It is restricted
to the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
The species was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the
Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa,
but was elevated to species status in 2006.
Its build is stocky, with strong, muscular legs, and its tail is long. Its head
is relatively small compared to its body size, with small, rounded ears. Its fur is
patterned with large, blotchy patches of dark fur.
This animal is nocturnal, secretive and generally solitary in nature, and little is
known of its ecology. It is an excellent tree climber, and in areas where
the forest is well connected it need rarely come to ground.
The species consumers a variety of medium-size mammal prey including various
species of porcupine, civet, deer and pig.
The bornean form, N. d. borneensis, occurs in suitable forest in
elevations ranging from the lowlands to around 1500 metres. This is the
largest species of wild cat in Borneo.
The sumatran form, N. d. diardi, appears to be restricted to hilly
and montane regions of the main mountain spine which runs parallel to the
west coast. In Sumatra its size is exceeded by another cat, the Sumatran
Tiger.
The species as a whole is categorised as 'vulnerable' due to a decreasing
population, and constant shrinking of its forest habitat. Sightings of the
species are rare, but a better understanding of its distribution and
population size has been made by the use of trail cameras (camera traps).
In Borneo this species occurs in parts of Malaysian Borneo (Sarawak, Sabah),
Brunei and the Indonesian territory of Kalimantan. On the Indonesian island
of Sumatra it is restricted mainly to the west.
Figs 1 and 2 : Young adult from Tabin Wildlife Reserve,
Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Photos thanks to Horst Flotow.
Fig 3 : Tall, lowland primary forest in Sabah, Borneo - typical habitat for
the Sunda Clouded Leopard.
References :
Hearn, A., Ross, J., Brodie, J., Cheyne, S., Haidir, I.A., Loken, B., Mathai,
J., Wilting, A. & McCarthy, J. 2015. Neofelis diardi. The IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species 2015: e.T136603A97212874.
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