African Wildcat (Africa) Felis silvestris lybica DESCRIPTION (male) Head and body length 21-26 inches (545-665 mm). Tail 11-14 inches (275-360 mm). Weight 9-14 pounds (4-6 kg). (female) Head & body length 18-24 inches (460-620 mm). Tail 10-14 inches (255-355 mm). Weight 5-11 pounds (2.3-5.0 kg). Females have four pairs of teats. The African wildcat is generally recognized as the ancestor of the domestic cat (Felis catus) and often interbreeds with it. The two species are similar in size and appearance and can be difficult to identify in the field; however, there are two features that distinguish purebred wildcats from domestic cats and hybrids. In the wildcat, the backs of the ears are a rich reddish-brown, while domestic cats and hybrids usually have dark gray or black-backed ears, with perhaps a little red. A second feature is the wildcat's long legs. When a wildcat sits upright, its long front legs raise the body almost to the vertical, a position that is nearly impossible for dome
Post: 30 June 15:41
