Ocelot

Ocelot Range

The first point of note is that the island of Trinidad and Tobago is said, by the Red List, to be part of the range of the cat (see below) but it is not marked (as at 29-8-09) on the Red List map as part of the range. I have marked it as part of the range but highlighted it in a slightly different color for this reason. The range includes the following countries:

 
Argentina – Belize – Bolivia – Brazil – Colombia – Costa Rica – Ecuador – El Salvador – French Guiana – Guatemala – Guyana – Honduras – Mexico – Nicaragua – Panama –  Paraguay – Peru – Suriname – Trinidad and Tobago – United States – Venezuela. Possibly in Uruguay

The Sunquists in their book, Wild Cats Of The World, say that there are fossil records of this cat in Florida and Arizona and that it used to be found much further north than its present range, occupying Arkansas and Arizona in the USA. The Sunquists mention that the ocelot has been recorded as occupying Trinidad and Tobago and the island of Margarita (see blue flag on map above). The ocelot shares (symatric with) large parts of its range wth these wildcats:

Note: Big Cat Rescue say that this wildcat can be found in small populations in Texas and possibly Arizona and New Mexico. This seems to be much further north than idicated by the Red List. However, as part of a study in Texas researchers have created a subpopulation there. I won’t say where!

Description

The scientific name is Leopardus pardalis. It looks similar to the margay but is considerably larger and its tail is relatively shorter (the margay is an especially gifted climber and the long tail acts as a balance). It can be hard to compare sizes in pictures (impossible, in fact, as these cats are rarely if ever together in a photo). It has fabulous markings, a gift from nature. They are its worst enemy. It is named after its spots as “ocelot” comes from the latin “cellatus” meaning eyelike spots (Sunquists). This cat has been mercilessly exploited for its fur by us.

The ocelot weighs between 8 – 10 kilograms (17.6 – 22 lbs). Some large domestic cats are in this range (see largest domestic cat breed).

Using cat fancy terminology this cat has white spectacles and black mascara producing an extraordinary contrast. These are markings that a cat breeder would die for! The irony is that it is the cat that is doing the dying because of them. It has a full range of markings:

  • white specs
  • black eyeliner!
  • merged enlongated black spots on the forehead running towards the back with more or less symetrical spots and merged spots inbetween these lines
  • two heavy and dense black lines on either side of the face – very symetrical
  • merged heavy rosettes in a line running down the side of the body
  • white undersides with high contrast black lines and spots
  • the back of the ear flap has the classic white “eye” spot against a black background for maximum contrast and effect

The background colour varies between grey to cream.

Behavior

Perhaps one positive side effect of this cat’s persecution by us is the urgency with which research was carried out from 1980 onwards. Perhaps this was a result of its diminishing population. People became concerned. Although this cat’s survival is not a concern to the IUCN Red List people. They are found in a wide range of habitats within the range and from sea level to 1,200 metres above sea level. The ocelot lives in areas where there is good cover and plenty of prey (rodents). This wildcat is so sensitive to the need for cover that even when hunting at night but under a full moon it avoids open areas and trails and works in bushy areas. The habitats include:

  • tropical evergreen forest (see below)
  • semideciduous forest
  • dry thorn forest
  • mangrove (see below)
  • flooded savanna (seasonal)
  • abandoned cultivated land with brush
  • second growth woodland

Two examples of these habitats are below:

Rainforest near Paraty Brazil
Rainforest Brazil near Parati, Brazil (Paraty) by chris.diewald

mangrove forest Brazil

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