| European wildcat | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Felinae |
| Genus: | Felis |
| Species: | F. silvestris
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| Binomial name | |
| Felis silvestris | |
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| Distribution of the European wildcat[1] | |
The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) is a small wildcat species native to continental Europe, Scotland, Turkey and the Caucasus. It inhabits forests from the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Central and Eastern Europe to the Caucasus. Its fur is brownish to grey with stripes on the forehead and on the sides and has a bushy tail with a black tip. It reaches a head-to-body length of up to 65 cm (26 in) with a 34.5 cm (13.6 in) long tail, and weighs up to 7.5 kg (17 lb).
In France and Italy, the European wildcat is predominantly nocturnal, but also active in the daytime when undisturbed by human activities. It preys foremost on small mammals such as lagomorphs and rodents, but also on ground-dwelling birds.
- ^ a b c Gerngross, P.; Ambarli, H.; Angelici, F.M.; Anile, S.; Campbell, R.; Ferreras de Andres, P.; Gil-Sanchez, J.M.; Götz, M.; Jerosch, S.; Mengüllüoglu, D.; Monterroso, P.; Zlatanova, D. (2023) [amended version of 2022 assessment]. "Felis silvestris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T181049859A224982454. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T181049859A224982454.en.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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