Living Beings
    Source-identified Caracal auratus; documentary image Framed for display
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    Caracal aurata Tanzania.png · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Greco, I., & Rovero, F. (2021). The African golden cat Caracal aurata in Tanzania: first record and vulnerability assessment. Oryx, 55(2), 212–215 . doi:10.1017/S003060532000040X · CC BY 4.0

    Field guide · species

    African Golden Cat

    Caracal auratus

    AnimaliaMammaliaCarnivoraFelidae

    The African golden cat is an elusive forest cat, distinct from the Asian golden cat despite their similar common names. Understanding this species requires looking beyond coat color to its separate African lineage and habitat.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomAnimalia
    4. PhylumChordata
    5. ClassMammalia
    6. OrderCarnivora
    7. FamilyFelidae
    8. GenusCaracal
    9. SpeciesCaracal auratus
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Opisthokonta clade
    4. Metazoa kingdom
    5. Eumetazoa clade
    6. Bilateria clade
    7. Deuterostomia clade
    8. Chordata phylum
    9. Craniata subphylum
    10. Vertebrata clade
    11. Gnathostomata clade
    12. Teleostomi clade
    13. Euteleostomi clade
    14. Sarcopterygii superclass
    15. Dipnotetrapodomorpha clade
    16. Tetrapoda clade
    17. Amniota clade
    18. Mammalia class
    19. Theria clade
    20. Eutheria clade
    21. Boreoeutheria clade
    22. Laurasiatheria superorder
    23. Carnivora order
    24. Feliformia suborder
    25. Felidae family
    26. Felinae subfamily
    27. Caracal genus
    28. Caracal auratus species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    The body is robust and the coat varies between reddish and grayish forms. Spotting can be more visible on some parts of the body.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Dense African forest and secondary growth provide cover and hunting habitat.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Diet and nutrition

    Rodents and other forest mammals are important prey. Birds and additional small animals may also be taken.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    It is generally solitary and difficult to observe in dense cover. Sparse observations should not be treated as a complete account of its daily behavior.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Benin?, Burundi?, Gambia?, Guinea-Bissau?, Kenya?, Rwanda?, Senegal?, Sudan?, Togo?.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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