SCRIPT

SEAN
Goodmorning!

Introduction of endemic species

The Visayan leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori) is a small,
elusive wild cat native to the Visayan Islands in the Philippines. Known for
its striking appearance and adaptability, this feline species is an important
part of the region's biodiversity.

Description of the Visayan Leopard Cat

The Visayan leopard cat is characterized by its slender build, spotted
coat, and relatively small size, typically weighing between 2 to 4 kilograms
(4.4 to 8.8 pounds). Its fur is covered with distinctive dark rosettes and
spots, which provide excellent camouflage in its natural forested and
grassland habitats. The cat's coat color ranges from yellowish-brown to
grayish, with a white underbelly. It has a long tail, often marked with
several dark rings and a black tip, aiding in balance and agility.
 This subspecies of the leopard cat is distinguished from its mainland
relatives by its unique genetic makeup and geographical isolation. Adapted to
the diverse landscapes of the Visayan islands, the Visayan leopard cat is both
an adept climber and a skilled swimmer, capable of hunting a variety of prey
such as rodents, birds, and insects. Despite its adaptability, the Visayan
leopard cat faces numerous threats, including habitat destruction, hunting,
and competition with invasive species, which have led to its vulnerable status

Allopatric Speciation
Allopatric speciation, where populations are geographically separated and
evolve into distinct species, has occurred in the Visayan leopard cats. Due to
geographic isolation on different islands in the Visayas region of the
Philippines, the population of Visayan leopard cats split into two subspecies:
Prionailurus bengalensis rabori and Prionailurus bengalensis heaneyi. Over
time, these separated populations adapted to their specific island
environments, leading to genetic divergence and the formation of distinct
subspecies. This process highlights the role of geographic isolation in the
evolution of biodiversity.
Habitat Utilization of the Visayan Leopard Cats
Visayan leopard cats primarily inhabit lowland tropical rainforests,
secondary forests, grasslands, and agricultural landscapes in the Visayan
Islands of the Philippines. They thrive in dense vegetation, using forests for
cover and hunting small mammals, birds, and insects. Adaptable to
human-modified environments, they also hunt in grasslands and fields,
particularly at night to avoid human activity. As generalist predators, they
help control rodent populations. However, habitat loss due to deforestation
and agricultural expansion threatens their survival, emphasizing the need for
conservation efforts to protect their diverse habitats.
 CY

Habitat Utilization

Visayan leopard cats adapt to various habitats, including forest edges,

secondary forests, and agricultural lands like sugarcane fields. Their
presence in sugarcane fields is particularly influenced by the growth of
sugarcane, which attracts rodents, their primary prey. In Negros Occidental,
these cats have been found in sugarcane fields and game fowl farms due to the
rapid and continuous deforestation that depletes their natural habitats. The
dense cover provided by sugarcane fields offers shelter and abundant food, but
this adaptation comes with risks such as exposure to pesticides and conflicts
with humans when leopard cats prey on gamefowl chicks .

Ecological Role

As mid-level predators, Visayan leopard cats play a critical role in

maintaining the balance of prey populations, particularly rodents. This
predator-prey relationship helps control the rodent population, which can
affect agricultural productivity and the spread of diseases. By regulating
prey populations, leopard cats contribute to the overall health and stability
of their ecosystems, highlighting their importance in biodiversity
conservation and ecosystem functioning .

Threats to Leopard Cats

Leopard cats face several threats, including habitat destruction due to

deforestation, biomagnification from consuming rodents tainted with
pesticides, and hunting by humans. The rapid deforestation in Negros Island,
driven by agricultural expansion and logging, significantly reduces the
natural habitat of leopard cats, forcing them into human-dominated landscapes.
In these areas, they are often killed either from eating poisoned rodents or
by humans when they prey on valuable gamefowl chicks. These threats not only
reduce their population but also disrupt the ecological balance they help
maintain .

Distribution and Persistence

Visayan leopard cats are distributed across the central Philippine

islands, including Negros, Cebu, Panay, and possibly Masbate. They persist in
these areas by adapting to secondary habitats such as sugarcane fields.
Studies show that their presence is closely linked to the proximity of forest
cover, with higher numbers found near forested areas where alternative shelter
and prey are available. This distribution pattern underscores the importance
of forest conservation for the survival of these cats .
 ARAN

Phylogenetic Position (Diagram)

This diagram shows that Leopard cats in Asia belong to two different lineages,
the Mainland Lineage and Sunda Lineage. It also displays the divergence of
those two lineages to various subspecies.

Phylogenetic Position (2nd Slide)

The divergence of this two lineage is caused by the temporal extinction

of the leopard cats at peninsular Malaysia which is caused by the eruption of
the Toba Supervolcano. This led to the obstructed gene flow between the two
populations causing it to diverge. North, became the mainland lineage while at
the south became the Sunda Lineage. The Visayan Leopard Cat (P. b. rabori)
belongs to the Sunda Lineage.

Origin and Dispersal

Leopard cats from the Philippines including the Visayan Leopard Cat have
Bornean Origin. In the late pleistocene period with lower sea levels, the
Palawan islands were connected to Borneo through a landbridge. This allowed
the sunda leopard cats to travel and colonize the Philippine island of
Palawan.

However, as sea level rose, the land bridge between Palawan and Borneo
was submerged, isolating the population of Palawan from Borneo. This resulted
in allopatric speciation forming distinct subspecies. Panay, Negros, and Cebu
were not connected to any Sunda Islands suggesting that they may have been
introduced by humans, natural dispersion over water such as rafting seems
unlikely in mammals.

Evolutionary History

The establishment of the Visayan Leopard Cat (P.b. rabori) is more recent
compared to other subspecies. The relatively recent establishment of the
Visayan Leopard Cat shows low genetic differentiation between the Palawan
Leopard Cats. Morphological differences between the Palawan Leopard Cat and
Visayan Leopard Cat led to their differentiation into distinct subspecies
(Typological Species Concept). It is however unknown whether the variation in
the Visayan Leopard Cat is caused by a founder effect or by natural selection
in their new habitat.