Surviving in a changing world: A systematic review of research trends and threats to the mysterious rusty-spotted cat

The rusty-spotted cat ( Prionailurus rubiginosus ), the world’s smallest felid, is native to India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Despite its Near Threatened status on the IUCN Red List, research on this elusive species remains fragmented, focusing mainly on species distribution through incidental camera-trap data. With the development of tailored, evidence-based conservation strategies requiring sufficient knowledge of the species' biology and threats, we aim to summarize critical knowledge gaps and provide recommendations for filling them. We systematically reviewed the existing literature to assess the state of research on the species, identify key research trends, and highlight areas requiring urgent attention. Additionally, we mapped 121 occurrence records and delved into 15 conservation projects to understand current monitoring and conservation efforts throughout its range. Our findings from 52 studies indicate that most studies focus on habitat preferences and distribution, with limited research on biology, genetics, disease, and threats to the species. Major threats identified include habitat loss, fragmentation, road mortality, and potential disease risks. Occurrence records are heterogeneous in terms of the methods employed but do identify potential species range expansions in India. Most conservation projects stem from India, however, efforts in Nepal and Sri Lanka have increased in recent years, reinforcing the growing conservation importance of this species. The review underscores the need for standardized monitoring protocols, long-term targeted research, and collaborative conservation efforts across the species’ range. By addressing these gaps, we envisage the development of more robust research and conservation strategies for the rusty-spotted cat in the future.