The Ways That the Geographical Environment Shapes the Morphological Features and Behavioral Habits of Wild Cats (Felis Silvestris) in Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Ruotong Lin

doi:10.54097/thp36r02

Authors

Ruotong Lin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/thp36r02

Keywords:

Wild Cats, Ecology, Bergman's Law, Geographical Impacts

Abstract

This report aims to describe the physical traits and behavioral habits of the three convectional subspecies of the wild cats, namely Asian wild cats (F. s. ornata), African wild cats (F. s. lybica), and European wild cats (Felis silvestris silvestris) in terms of three major geographical factors, namely climate, landform, and water and food resources. The report is a literature review that refers to the research about wild cats’ habits and appearances in the last 3 decades. The conclusion is that temperature is the most direct and important factor affecting the skeletons, fur color, thickness, and activity mode. In contrast, landforms may influence the place they choose as habitats and their way of hunting prey. Factors like food and water resources influence their way of hunting prey, but they are also the major cause of the difference in drought tolerance of the three types of wild cats.

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