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Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Leopardus
Binomial name
Leopardus pardalis
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Ocelot range

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a small mammal, one of nine species in the genus Leopardus.

It lives in South and Central America, as far up as Mexico. It has been reported as far north as Texas and in Trinidad, in the Caribbean. These fast cats eat small mammals, birds, fish, and snakes. They are very good swimmers.

Once hunted for its beautiful fur, the cat is now protected and listed as 'least concern' by the IUCN Red List. The cat is nocturnal and likes forests and dense vegetation. It is very territorial, and will fight to keep its territory. Like many cats, male ocelots mark their territory by spraying urine.

Their kittens grow slowly, staying with their mother for up to two years. They have to learn how to catch prey before they can be independent.

Although a "small cat", it is a good deal bigger than the others. The ocelot ranges from 68 to 100 centimetres (27 to 39 in) in length, plus 26 to 45 centimeters (10 to 18 in) in tail length, and typically weighs 8 to 18 kilograms (18 to 40 lb). Larger ones have been reported.[1][2][3] It is the largest of the generally dainty Leopardus wild cat genus. the ocelot is very intelligent and can sense a monkey from the trees! When they jump from a tree they are very clumsy landers. They eat birds that fall from the trees or the dead carcases from animals. They live in jungles such as the American jungle.

References[change | change source]

  1. Burnie, David & Don E. Wilson 2001. Animal: the definitive visual guide to the world's wildlife. New York City: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7894-7764-5
  2. Sunquist, Mel & Sunquist, Fiona 2002. Wild cats of the world. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 120–129. ISBN 0-226-77999-8
  3. Moreno R.S. et al (2006). "Competitive release in diets of ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and puma (Puma concolor) after jaguar (Panthera onca) decline". Journal of Mammalogy 87 (4): 808–816. doi:10.1644/05-MAMM-A-360R2.1 . http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/staffpubs/docs/15933.pdf.