Conservation Status
Not threatened. Population decreasing.
Description
The Ocelot has short tawny or reddish brown fur with black spots and rosette shaped marks. The belly is white. The face has two black stripes down each side. There is a white spot behind each ear and white marks round the eyes and mouth. Its coat which is short and close (less plush than the similarly patterned margay), is marked with both rosettes and spots which tend to run in parallel chains along the sides of the body. The tail is banded with black bands.
Ocelots are strongly nocturnal, resting in trees or dense bush in the daytime; some resting spots are used repeatedly, including by different ocelots of the same sex. Ocelots are generally active for more than half of each 24-hour period.
Size
About twice the size of a house cat. Head and body length: 55cm - 100cm. Tail length: 30cm - 45cm. Weight: males 10 - 11.5 kg; females 8.8 - 9.4 kg.
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Habitat
Ocelots occupy a wide spectrum of habitats, including mangrove forests and coastal marshes, savannah grasslands and pastures, thorn scrub, and tropical forest of all types. Availability of sufficient amounts of dense vegetative cover is the common factor linking the various habitat types where ocelots are found.
Diet
Rodents and small mammals are the mainstay of the ocelot’s diet. Most frequently taken prey species are mice, rats, opossums and armadillos. Ocelots will also take larger prey, including lesser anteaters, red brocket deer, squirrel monkeys and land tortoises. For larger prey species (such as paca and agouti), juveniles are typically taken. Ocelots also vary their hunting behavior to take advantage of seasonal changes in prey abundance, such as spawning fish and land crabs in the wet season.
Breeding
One, two or occasionally three young are born after gestation of 79 - 85 days.
Ocelots live 7-10 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.
Range
The ocelot is found in every country south of the United States, except Chile. Ocelots have been extirpated from Arkansas, Louisiana, eastern Texas and Arizona, although individuals may occasionally cross into Arizona and Texas from Mexico.
Other Names
ocelot (French)
Ozelot (German)
tigrillo, ocelote, gato onza (Spanish)
tirica (Argentina)
gato onza (Argentina, Bolivia, Peru)
chivi-guazu (Argentina, Paraguay)
cunaguaro (Argentina, Venezuela)
tigrezillo, gato bueno (Bolivia)
maracaju-acu, gato mourisco, jaguatirica (Brazil)
gato maracaja (Brazil, Paraguay)
maracaya, maracaja (Colombia)
manigordo (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela)
chat tig (French Guiana)
yagua-tirica (Guarani)
zac-xicin (Mayan)
gato tigre, tigre chico (Panama)
pumillo, tigrillo (Peru)
hétigrikati (Surinam)
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| Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) |
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