Living Beings
    Source-identified Prionailurus viverrinus; documentary image Framed for display
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    Prionailurus viverrinus at the San Diego Zoo 53 2014-08-23.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. F ASTILY · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Fishing Cat

    Prionailurus viverrinus

    AnimaliaMammaliaCarnivoraFelidae

    The fishing cat is a sturdy wetland-associated felid. Its name reflects an important part of its diet, but it should not be read as a claim that the animal eats nothing except fish.

    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. GenusPrionailurus
    9. SpeciesPrionailurus viverrinus
    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. Prionailurus genus
    28. Prionailurus viverrinus species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    A robust body, short limbs and relatively short tail distinguish its shape.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Marshes, swamps and vegetated river or wetland margins are important habitats.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Diet and nutrition

    Fish are prominent foods; other animals encountered around wetlands may also be taken.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    Fishing cats forage at water edges and can enter water. Wetland structure and accessible prey are central to this hunting environment.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia?, Vietnam?.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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