Interesting fact

The Chilean Ocelot is the smallest cat of the Americas and one of the smallest in the world.

Appearance

Chilean ocelot's fur is downy, grey-brown or red-brown with many small black spots, and the abdomen is lighter and also spotted. The muzzle of this cat has a distinctive pattern: a dark line runs from each eye across the cheek, another dark stripe rises vertically on either side of the black nose. His ears are relatively small, rounded and have a black back side with a white central spot. Some individuals have distinct dark stripes across the throat. The tail of the Chilean ocelot is decorated with black rings and is about half the length of the body. Males are larger than females. Melanism is quite common in some regions.

Distribution and habitat

Central and southern Chile, including the island of Chiloe, and marginally in adjacent areas of southwestern Argentina from sea level to 2500 m above sea level.

Vegetation cover is an important requirement for the Chilean ocelot, as it is usually found in forest types with strong undergrowth. It is strongly associated with the humid temperate mixed forests of the southern Andes and coast, particularly the Valdivian and Araucania forests of Chile. Characteristic of these forests is the presence of southern beech and bamboo in the undergrowth.

Behaviour

Can be active during the day and at night. Melanistic individuals show more nocturnal activity than normal individuals. The Chilean Ocelot is a good climber, escaping to trees when it feels threatened. This is also their resting place.

Food

It feeds mainly on small mammals - rodents, marsupials, lagomorphs, but also birds, lizards and invertebrates. Occasionally eats carrion.

Main threats

Habitat loss and fragmentation caused mainly by logging, agricultural and livestock activities and conversion of habitats to pine plantations, as well as direct attacks from humans.