The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands, the presence of hair or fur; specialized teeth; the presence of a neocortex region in the brain; and endothermic or 'warm-blooded' bodies. The brain regulates endothermic and circulatory system, including a four-chambered heart. In India there are 410 species, 186 genera, 45 families and 13 orders of which nearly 89 species are listed as threatened in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Animals (IUCN 2006).

The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat native to India. They live in tropical evergreen rain forests and plantations at sea level, in subtropical deciduous and coniferous forests, in the foothills of the Himalayas at altitudes above 1000 m (3300 ft). Leopard cats are carnivorous, feeding on a variety of small prey including mammals, lizards, amphibians, birds and insects.

IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC) Photo: K Bnd