Latest Leopardus Stories
Wildlife Conservation Society and partners find endangered cat species beyond the mountains in Patagonian steppe Once thought to exclusively inhabit its namesake mountain range, the threatened Andean cat"”a house cat-sized feline that resembles a small snow leopard in both appearance and habitat"”also frequents the Patagonian steppe at much lower elevations, according to a new study published by the Wildlife Conservation Society and partners. The finding represents a range extension...
Latest Leopardus Reference Libraries
The Andean mountain cat (Leopardus jacobita) is a rarely seen wild cat that can be found in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina. This cat shares a range with the Pampas cat, and it is thought to be thinly spread, with low genetic diversity. It prefers a habitat in montane forests with plenty of water, at elevations between 11,500 and 15,700 feet. The Andean mountain cat is small, reaching an average body length between twenty-two and twenty-five inches, with a tail length of up to nineteen...
The colocolo (Leopardus colocolo) is a small cat that is native to central and Northern Chile, inhabiting western slopes of the Andes Mountains. This species was formerly classified within the Felis genus, like most other small cats, but it has since been classified in the Oncifelis genus by some experts, along with the kodkod and Geoffroy’s cat. However, it is now formally classified within the Leopardus genus. It once held two widespread subspecies, known as the Pampas Cat and the...
The Pampas Cat (Leopardus pajeros), is a small feline from the Pampas area of Argentina and Chile. Until recently it was considered a subspecies of the Colocolo. Photo Copyright and Credit
The Oncilla, Leopardus tigrinus, also known as the Little Spotted Cat or Tiger Cat, is a close relative of the Ocelot and Margay. The Oncilla's habitat is the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. They are nocturnal cats. The Oncilla grows to about 18 - 24 inches with a 10 - 20 inch tail. Although they are somewhat larger than domestic cats, the Oncilla is slightly lighter, weighing only 5 - 10 pounds. Most adult domestic cats are heavier. The primary food of the Oncilla...
The margay (Leopardus wiedii, or Felis wiedii) is a spotted cat native to Central and South America. It is a solitary nocturnal animal that prefers remote sections of the rainforest. Although it was once believed to be vulnerable to extinction, the IUCN now lists it as "Least Concern". It roams the rainforests from Mexico to Argentina. The margay is very similar to the Ocelot, although the head is a bit shorter. The tail is longer, and the spotted pattern on the tail is different. Most...
