black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777
Synonyms: Felis (Catus) silvestris Schreber, 1777; Felis catus ferus Erxleben, 1777,
Catusferox Martorelli, 1896,
Common names: Engl: European wild cat; Russ: Dikaya evropeyskaya lesnaya
koshka; Turk: Yaban kedisi; Ukr: Kit lisovy
Order CARNIVORA
Family FELIDAE
Taxonomic description. Similar to, but more robust than striped tabby domestic cat.
Chief distinguishing feature is its bushy tail, which has 3-5 completely separate broad,
black rings, and a rounded/blunt black tip. Head-body length: 48-68 cm; tail length:
21-38.5 cm; hind foot length: 10-16 cm; shoulder height: 35-40 cm; weight: 1.6-8 kg.
Dental formula: 3/3, 1/1, 3/2, 1/1=30.
IUCN Status
World level: EN
Black Sea Regional level: EN
Subregion level: EN
Distribution. Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor. Black Sea Coast: in coastal regions
of Strandja Mts., Stara Planina Mts., Kamtcia River, Batova River.
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Lives in deciduous forests of the
plains and lower hill regions, mainly near natural clearings and in the peripheral zones
of large forests. A critical and limiting factor could be the absence of old trees.
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