Ocelot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ocelot | |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Genus: | Leopardus |
| Species: | L. pardalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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| Ocelot range | |
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a small cat distributed over South and Central America and Mexico. It has been reported as far north as Texas and in Trinidad, in the Caribbean. These fast hunters 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. Their kittens grow slowly, staying with their mother for up to two years.
It is one of nine species in the genus Leopardus.
