Mammals
Flat-headed Cat
Prionailurus planiceps · also called flat headed cat
Wading at the edge of a Borneo swamp, a flat-headed cat watches the shallows with its long, low head, a cat that has traded the usual forest hunt for fish and frogs.
Overview
The flat-headed cat, Prionailurus planiceps, is an Endangered small cat native to wetland habitat in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Its flattened skull, fish-gripping teeth, and semi-aquatic lifestyle make it one of the most water-adapted cats in the world.
A cat built for the swamp
Where most cats avoid water, the flat-headed cat relies on it, and its head shape, teeth, and claws all point to a life spent hunting in rivers, swamps, and marshes.
Status
Endangered, with a population declining as lowland wetlands are drained and converted across its range.
Flat-headed Cat: common questions
Why is it called the flat-headed cat?
It has a long, narrow skull with a flat forehead and small, low-set ears, a head shape unlike that of most other cats.
Does the flat-headed cat hunt in water?
It is semi-aquatic and feeds largely on fish, frogs, and crustaceans, using sharp, pointed front teeth to grip slippery prey.
Why is the flat-headed cat Endangered?
It depends on lowland wetlands and swamp forest that are being drained and converted for plantations and agriculture.
Where is the flat-headed cat found?
It is native to wetland habitat in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.