Iriomote-yamaneko

The Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) is a subspecies of the leopard cat that lives exclusively on the Japanese island of Iriomote.

It has been classified as Critically Endangered by IUCN since 2008, as the population size is fewer than 250, is declining, and consists of a single subpopulation.^[1] As of 2007, there are an estimated 100–109 individuals remaining.^[2]

In Japanese it is called Iriomote-yamaneko "Iriomote mountain cat" (西表山猫^?) and has also previously been known to the local islanders as yamamaya (ヤママヤ^?, "the cat in the mountain"), yamapikaryaa (ヤマピカリャー^?, "that which shines on the mountain"), and meepisukaryaa (メーピスカリャー^?, "that which has flashing eyes").^[3][4]
 

It is estimated that Iriomote cats live for seven to eight years in the wild and eight to nine years in captivity. ^[7][18] Because of human influences, though, traffic accidents and traps may lower their lifespan to two to five years.^[18] In captivity, an Iriomote cat lived for an estimated fifteen years and one month, the longest known lifespan of any Iriomote cat (see #Yon).^[30]