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Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
Status: Least Concern
Range & Habitat
Ocelots are found throughout South and Central America and Mexico. They have also been reported in Texas. Mangrove forests, coastal marshes, savanna, forest
Physical Description
The Ocelot is a medium sized felid known for its coat. Their short pelage is tawny to reddish brown with both black spots and rosettes. They have a single white spot on each ear with some white markings around their eyes and mouth as well as two black lines on each side of their faces. Their tails are marked with black bands.
Reproduction & Growth
Ocelots have litters of 1, 2, or occasionally 3 kittens. A den is used to raise the young and it can be placed in a dense thicket, a hollow tree, or a cave. The young are born fully furred, but with their eyes closed. Female Ocelots will mature between 15 to 22 months of age. Males leave the den to lead solitary lives when they are approximately a year old.
Diet: Carnivore
Their diet includes small mammals, birds and reptiles as well as larger prey such as agoutis, armadillos, and pacas.
Behavior
Ocelots are very secretive, solitary animals. They live solitary lives, only coming together to mate. They are normally nocturnal so are active at night. When hunting, Ocelots tend to be secretive and keep to areas with dense cover.
Major Threats
Habitat loss and fragmentation, Pet trade
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Sources:
Caso, A., Lopez-Gonzalez, C., Payan, E., Eizirik, E., de Oliveira, T., Leite-Pitman, R., Kelly, M. & Valderrama, C. 2008. Leopardus pardalis. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.2. iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 18 August 2010.
"Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1758)". Encyclopedia of Life, available from www.eol.org/pages/313991. Accessed 18 Aug 2010.
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