Spotted cat

Biology

The spotted cat can be found swimming in schools in tropical waters, rich in organic material and animal and plant remains and around estuaries, mangrove swamps and even near river mouths. The spotted cat has venomous spines in its dorsal, anal and pelvic fins.

Conservation

This species inhabits some estuary environments that exhibit high contamination levels, either due to boat traffic or because of urban development near the coast. As the spotted cat is widely distributed, those localized threats are not affecting it significantly.

Curiosities

In China, it is believed that the spotted cat has curative properties. Therefore, it is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine.