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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation) | |
Plinian wrote:
Terrific series, Eric, for both the documentary aspects and the artistry (#9 stands out). I wonder if the prey in #9 and #10 might be Felis nigripes (black-footed cat) rather than African wild cat? The latter are much more common, but I don't think the underside of the feet are black.
Greg
Many thanks Greg for your kind words and astute observation. I am not sure that African wildcats don't have black paws (I have read that their paws turn black after about 4 months of age) but certainly black footed cats do and I have always taken the word of our guide that the people who saw the kill, or at least saw the leopard with the intact kill, said it was an African Wildcat. However, since Black Footed Cats are so rare it may have just been an assumption that that is what it was. But I tried to look at some other shots to see if the fur would be a give away and honestly I'm not sure. Some of the shots do tend to show a spotted coat but there is so little left that it's really hard to be sure. But you may be exactly right in which case this is an even rarer sighting. Funny how 6 years later and by looking at the old photos I can relive that sighting again as though it happened yesterday.
Eric
ps
Here is another image from that evening which does seem to show more spotted/striped fur then would be expected with an African Wildcat. I did "fix" the eyes too, but didn't take too much time with that.
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Botswana2007/i-3Nn2K25/0/XL/DPP07DD0318170902Leopardcatabalism-XL.jpg
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