The ocelot is a medium-sized wildcat native to a wide range spanning from southern Texas through Central America and much of South America, patterned with dark rosettes and stripes over a tawny-yellow coat that provides camouflage in dense forest and scrub. About twice the size of a large domestic cat, it is a skilled climber and swimmer but hunts mainly on the ground, taking small mammals, birds, reptiles and fish under cover of night. Ocelots are solitary and strongly territorial, marking and defending home ranges that can be substantially larger for males than females, and they were historically heavily hunted for their attractive fur before international trade protections were introduced in the 1980s. The species remains fairly widespread across much of Latin America, though populations in the United States are critically small and endangered due to habitat fragmentation from roads and development. Camera trap studies have made the ocelot one of the more closely monitored small wildcats in conservation research.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Scientific Name Conservation Status Population EstimateAs-of-2013 estimate; a more recent global figure was not found this pass. Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceThe ocelot's fur is extensively marked with solid black markings on a creamy, tawny, yellowish, reddish gray or gray background color. 1 Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Ocelot (Wikipedia)
Source Ocelot (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Ocelot (Wikipedia)
Source Ocelot (Wikipedia)
Source Ocelot (Wikipedia)
Source Ocelot (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
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Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
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Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Ocelot (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph, sentence 1
The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a medium-sized spotted wild cat.
Conservation section
The ocelot is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because of its wide distribution in the Americas.
Description section
The ocelot's fur is extensively marked with solid black markings on a creamy, tawny, yellowish, reddish gray or gray background color.
Conservation section, population figure sentence
As of 2013, the global population was estimated at more than 40,000 mature individuals.
Article text
In 1986, the European Economic Community banned import of ocelot skins, and in 1989, the ocelot was included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
In Ecosystem: Amazon Rainforest, Distribution and habitat
In the Amazon rainforest, it prefers habitats with availability of prey and water, and tends to avoid other predators.
In Ecosystem: Cerrado, Reproduction and life cycle
Both male and female ocelots produce a long-range "yowl" in the mating season and a short-range "meow".
In Ecosystem: Atlantic Forest, Threats
In the Atlantic Forest in northeastern Argentina, it is affected by logging and poaching of prey species.
In Ecosystem: Llanos, In Texas
In Texas and northeastern Mexico, ocelot populations have reduced drastically; as of 2014, the population in Texas was estimated to be 50-80 individuals.
In Biome: Mangrove Forest, Distribution and habitat
It inhabits tropical forests, thorn forests, mangrove swamps and savannas.
In Biome: Tropical Rainforest, Distribution and habitat
In the Amazon rainforest, it prefers habitats with availability of prey and water, and tends to avoid other predators.
View the Source 2. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
3. Wikipedia: Ocelot
population-trend (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
While its range is very large, various populations are decreasing in many parts of its range.
human-interaction (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
The association of the ocelot with humans dates back to the Aztec and Incan civilizations; it has occasionally been kept as a pet.
system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
It preys on small terrestrial mammals, such as armadilloes, opossums, and lagomorphs.
View the Source4. NatureServe Explorer: Leopardus pardalis
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G4"
Wikidata: Ocelot
Ocelot (Wikidata)
WikidataWikidata Q33261 (P1034 main food source): green iguana
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): green iguana.
Wikidata Q33261 (P1034 main food source): insect
Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): insect.
View the Source Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: LeopardusView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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