Species comparison
Asian Golden Cat vs Southern Tiger Cat
A side-by-side look at Catopuma temminckii and Leopardus guttulus across body measurements, habitat, diet, behaviour and conservation status.
At a glance
- The asian golden cat averages about 4.7 times the body mass of the southern tiger cat.
- Both species use tropical rainforest and montane forest.
- Their ranges do not overlap: Asian Golden Cat lives in Asia, Southern Tiger Cat in South America.
- Red List categories differ: Asian Golden Cat is listed as Near Threatened, Southern Tiger Cat as Vulnerable.
Identification
How each species is named and classified.
Asian Golden Cat
Catopuma temminckii
Southern Tiger Cat
Leopardus guttulus
Asian Golden Cat
Catopuma
Southern Tiger Cat
Leopardus
Asian Golden Cat
Bay cat lineage
Southern Tiger Cat
Ocelot lineage
Asian Golden Cat
Medium-sized cats
Southern Tiger Cat
Small cats
Asian Golden Cat
Temminck's cat, Fire cat
Southern Tiger Cat
Southern oncilla, Gato-do-mato-pequeno
Body and movement
Published field measurements for adults. Ranges cover both sexes unless noted.
Asian Golden Cat
2 ft 2 in – 3 ft 5 in (66–105 cm) Longer
Southern Tiger Cat
16 in – 24 in (40–60 cm)
Asian Golden Cat
16 in – 22 in (40–57 cm) Longer
Southern Tiger Cat
8 in – 17 in (20–42 cm)
Asian Golden Cat
18 in – 22 in (45–56 cm) Taller
Southern Tiger Cat
9 in – 12 in (23–30 cm)
Asian Golden Cat
20–35 lb (9–16 kg) Heavier
Males average heavier than females.
Southern Tiger Cat
4–7.7 lb (1.8–3.5 kg)
Slightly heavier on average than the northern species.
Asian Golden Cat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Southern Tiger Cat
Not reliably measured
Not measured in the field.
Life span
Typical adult longevity. Figures for managed care come from zoo and sanctuary records.
Asian Golden Cat
10–12 years
Southern Tiger Cat
10–13 years Longer
Asian Golden Cat
17–20 years Longer
Southern Tiger Cat
14–17 years
Habitat and range
Where each species lives and the conditions it tolerates.
Asian Golden Cat
tropical rainforest, montane forest, dry forest
Evergreen and mixed forest from lowland to about 12,000 feet in the Himalaya, including bamboo, secondary growth and drier deciduous woodland.
Southern Tiger Cat
tropical rainforest, montane forest, dry forest, agricultural mosaic
Atlantic Forest and adjacent araucaria woodland, including secondary forest and shade plantations that retain canopy cover.
Asian Golden Cat
Asia
From Nepal and north-east India through Bhutan, Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra.
Southern Tiger Cat
South America
Southern and south-eastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and the Misiones region of north-eastern Argentina.
Diet and behaviour
Feeding ecology, social organisation and hunting technique.
Asian Golden Cat
small mammals, birds, medium ungulates, reptiles
Rodents, hares, birds and reptiles, plus muntjac and young ungulates; the species is strong enough to take prey considerably larger than itself.
Southern Tiger Cat
small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects
Small rodents and marsupials, birds, lizards and insects.
Asian Golden Cat
Solitary
Mostly terrestrial and territorial. Field observations remain sparse despite the cat's relatively large size.
Southern Tiger Cat
Solitary
Detected at low densities in most surveys; individuals appear to avoid areas with high ocelot activity.
Asian Golden Cat
Crepuscular and partly diurnal
Camera-trap studies show more daytime activity than early accounts suggested, with peaks around dawn and dusk.
Southern Tiger Cat
Nocturnal and crepuscular
Predominantly night active, with activity shifting where larger cats are present.
Asian Golden Cat
Ground stalking in forest
Hunts on the forest floor, using cover for a close approach before a short rush.
Southern Tiger Cat
Ground stalk in forest understorey
Takes small prey on the forest floor and in low vegetation, hunting mostly by short stalks.
Asian Golden Cat
Strong
Climbs well and will follow prey into trees, though it hunts mainly on the ground.
Southern Tiger Cat
Strong
Climbs readily but forages mainly at ground level.
Asian Golden Cat
Limited More developed
No strong association with water.
Southern Tiger Cat
Very limited
No notable association with water.
Conservation
Red List category, population direction and the pressures documented for each species.
Asian Golden Cat
NT — Near Threatened
Assessed 2015
Southern Tiger Cat
VU — Vulnerable
Assessed 2016
Asian Golden Cat
Decreasing
Southern Tiger Cat
Decreasing
Asian Golden Cat
Deforestation, Indiscriminate snaring, Trade in skins and bones, Prey depletion, Retaliatory killing near livestock
Assessed as Near Threatened. Deforestation across South East Asia and pervasive snaring for the wild-meat and skin trade are the main pressures.
Southern Tiger Cat
Atlantic Forest clearance, Fragmentation into small isolated patches, Road mortality, Domestic dog attacks, Disease from domestic cats
Assessed as Vulnerable. Loss and fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest, combined with dog attacks and road mortality in the surrounding farmland, drive the decline.
Notable traits
Details that do not fit neatly into a measurement table.
Asian Golden Cat
- At least six coat morphs have been recorded, an unusual level of variation for a wild cat.
- Local names in several range countries translate as "fire cat" or "rock cat".
- A spotted morph photographed in China initially confused researchers, who suspected a new species.
Southern Tiger Cat
- It was described as separate from the northern tiger cat only in 2013, on genetic grounds.
- The two tiger cat species show no evidence of current interbreeding where their ranges approach one another.
- Its stronghold biome has lost the great majority of its original forest cover.
Sources used for this comparison
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation Dedicated research and field reporting on the lesser-known felids.
- Wildlife Conservation Society Field programmes, camera-trap surveys and population monitoring.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.