Living Beings
    Source-identified Felis nigripes; documentary image Framed for display
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    Felis nigripes 5.JPG · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Pierre de Chabannes pour http://www.photozoo.org . · CC BY-SA 2.5

    Field guide · species

    Black-footed Cat

    Felis nigripes

    AnimaliaMammaliaCarnivoraFelidae

    The black-footed cat is a small southern African hunter of open, dry country. It is a separate species from the domestic cat and should not be described as a domesticated or unusually colored household animal.

    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. GenusFelis
    9. SpeciesFelis nigripes
    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. Felis genus
    28. Felis nigripes species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    Dark spots and bands break up a pale brown coat. Dark foot markings contribute to the common name.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Dry grassland and savanna provide hunting habitat, with existing holes and sheltered spaces used as refuges.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Diet and nutrition

    Small mammals and birds make up much of its prey. The species hunts numerous small animals rather than relying on large kills.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    Individuals are largely solitary, meeting for breeding or in mother–young associations. Much hunting takes place at night.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Angola?, Eswatini?, Lesotho?, Zimbabwe?.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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