Research overview: the Tsushima cat as an insular leopard cat population

The Tsushima cat, restricted to Tsushima Island between Japan and Korea, is a critically endangered population of the leopard cat. This overview examines its taxonomic status, established by molecular work showing it belongs to the mainland Asian leopard cat lineage, Prionailurus bengalensis, with which it shares mitochondrial ancestry. It discusses how the Tsushima cat is treated as a regional population or subspecies rather than a distinct species, and why its conservation importance stems from its isolation and tiny numbers rather than deep evolutionary distinctiveness. The piece parallels the Iriomote cat case, where island leopard cats attracted special attention and conservation effort. It illustrates how taxonomy informs but does not solely determine conservation priority, since small isolated populations matter even when they are not separate species.