New Borneo Leopard Cat Species

New Borneo Leopard Cat Species



March 2007 - The clouded 
leopards found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra belong to 
an entirely new species of cat that diverged from the mainland 
population of clouded leopards some 1.4 million years ago, new 
genetic research shows. 
Based on their general physical appearance, all clouded 
leopards once were considered to belong to a single species. 
But recent genetic analysis has shown that the ones found on 
Borneo are so different that they are now classed as a 
separate species. 
"Genetic research results clearly indicate that the clouded 
leopards of Borneo should be considered a separate species," 
said Dr. Stephen O'Brien, head of the Laboratory of Genomic 
Diversity at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. "DNA tests 
highlighted around 40 differences between the two species." 
This is comparable to differences between other Panthera 
species. Lions and leopards, for instance, have 56 nucleotide 
differences. 
Bornean clouded leopard photographed in the Danum Valley of 
the Malaysian state of Sabah located in northern Borneo 
Researchers at the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity say the 
differences between the Borneo and mainland clouded leopard 
are comparable to the differences between species such as lion 
and tiger or tiger and leopard, jaguar and snow leopard. 
"We estimate that Bornean clouded leopards diverged from 
mainland populations during the Pleistocene, when recurring 
episodes of global cooling and warming created opportunities 
for population isolation," write O'Brien and his colleagues in 
the December 5, 2006 issue of "Current Biology." 
"The Sunda Shelf, between the Indonesian archipelago and 
Vietnam, was repeatedly exposed and then covered by changing 
sea levels. However, even when the archipelago was connected 
to the mainland, ancient river systems may have continued to 
isolate modern Borneo," they wrote, explaining the factors 
that allowed the Borneo clouded leopards to develop into a 
species separate from clouded leopards on the mainland. 
The combined results of DNA analysis point to a one to three 
million year difference in separation, while the accepted 
distance between species is one to two million years. 
The results of the genetic study are supported by separate 
research on geographical variation in the clouded leopard, 
based mainly on fur patterns and coloration of skins held in 
museums and collections. 
"The moment we started comparing the skins of the mainland 
clouded leopard and the leopard found on Borneo, it was clear 
we were comparing two different species," said Dr. Andrew 
Kitchener, from the Department of Natural Sciences, National 
Museums Scotland. "It's incredible that no one has ever 
noticed these differences." 
The Borneo clouded leopard has small cloud markings, many 
distinct spots within the cloud markings, greyer fur, and a 
double dorsal stripe. Overall, it is darker than the mainland 
species. 
Clouded leopard from Thailand in mainland southeast Asia, 
anaesthetized for radiotracking, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife 
Research Institute 
Clouded leopards from the mainland have large clouds on their 
skin with fewer, often faint, spots within the cloud markings, 
and they are lighter in color, with a tendency toward 
tawny-colored fur and a partial double dorsal stripe. 
"For over a hundred years we have been looking at this animal 
and never realized it was unique," said Stuart Chapman, WWF 
International Coordinator of the Heart of Borneo programme. 
"The fact that Borneo's top predator is now considered a 
separate species further emphasises the importance of 
conserving the Heart of Borneo." 
A total number of 5,000 to 11,000 Bornean clouded leopards are 
estimated to live on the world's third largest island. 
The total number in Sumatra is estimated in the range of 3,000 
to 7,000 individuals. Further studies are needed to obtain 
better population data. 
Secretive, mid-sized carnivores, clouded leopards are the 
biggest predators on Borneo, sometimes as large as small 
panthers. They are noted for having the longest canine teeth 
relative to body size of any cat. 
Destruction of their habitat is the main threat they face. 
The last great forest home of the Bornean clouded leopard is a 
220,000 square kilometer wild, mountainous region – about five 
times the size of Switzerland – covered with equatorial 
rainforest in the center of the island known as the Heart of 
Borneo. 
Last month in Bali, Indonesia, the ministers of the three 
Bornean governments – Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and 
Malaysia – signed an historic Declaration to conserve and 
sustainably manage the Heart of Borneo. This has put the area 
on the global stage of conservation priorities. 
Borneo clouded leopard photographed on the island of Borneo in 
Lambir Hill National Park in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. 

Clouded leopards occur in most forested habitats of Borneo, 
from the coast to interior mountain ranges. Most animals 
prefer Borneo's dense lowland and hill rainforests. They 
usually avoid open areas with few trees and are very sensitive 
to human disturbances. 
Bornean clouded leopards feed on monkeys, mouse deer, barking 
deer, young bearded pigs and sambar deer, which are stalked on 
the ground or jumped upon from tree branches. Occasionally 
birds and reptiles such as monitor lizards are eaten as well. 
The clouded leopard was first scientifically described in 1821 
by the British naturalist Edward Griffith. The scientific name 
of the clouded leopard from the mainland is Neofelis nebulosa, 
while the Bornean clouded leopard is now called Neofelis 
diardi. 
The identification of the new species comes just weeks after a 
WWF report showed that scientists had identified at least 52 
new species of animals and plants over the past year on 
Borneo. 
The global conservation organization says these repeated 
findings show how crucial it is to conserve the habitat and 
species of Borneo. 





 

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