Research overview: flat-headed cat aquatic morphology

The flat-headed cat shows striking anatomical adaptations to aquatic foraging, and this overview reviews them. Its name comes from a flattened head and forward-set eyes suited to peering into water, while partially webbed feet, elongated jaws with sharp, forward-pointing teeth, and claws that cannot be fully sheathed help it seize and grip slippery prey. A long, sleek body aids movement through wetland vegetation. These features mark the species as one of the most thoroughly aquatic-adapted of cats, convergent with the fishing cat. Understanding this morphology clarifies why the flat-headed cat is an obligate of freshwater wetlands and cannot readily shift to other habitats, reinforcing the severity of the threat posed by the loss of lowland Sundaland wetlands.