Black-footed Cat
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? Black-footed Cat Conservation status: Vulnerable
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| Felis nigripes Burchell, 1824 |
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The Black-footed Cat (Felis nigripes) is a small wild cat distributed over South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. It is the smallest living species of cats (length 35 cm, plus 15 cm tail). The fur is sand-coloured and has leopard-like blackish spots. As the name implies, the feet are black. In South Africa this cat is sometimes called Anthill Tiger.
The habitat of this cat is arid regions, for instance the Kalahari Desert. There it hunts for rodents, lizards and insects. Black-footed cats live solitarily and are active at night. In the daytime they hide under rocks and shrubs.
There are two subspecies: Felis nigripes nigripes in the western parts of southern Africa, and Felis nigripes thomasi. The latter has a slightly darker colour.