The Ocelot (Felis [Leopardus] pardalis)
ORDER: Carnivora
FAMILY: Felidae
GENUS: Felis
SPECIES: pardalis pardalis
I. DESCRIPTION:
Upper parts are grayish to cinnamon, with black markings forming streaks on the neck or
elongated spots on the body. Tail exhibits incomplete banding. Spotting and banding extend to
the outer surfaces of the limbs and onto the underparts which are white with occasional black
spots. Largest of the small spotted cats. Length from 36" to 40" (80-100 cm), tail 12" to 20"
(30-50 cm), height to 18" at the shoulder (46 cm), weight 25-35 pounds (11.3-15.9 kg). Females
are smaller.
II. GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:
Southwestern U.S. (Arizona and Texas), throughout Mexico and Central America, and in South
America from northern Argentina and Paraguay to Ecuador, but absent from Chile. Found in a
wide range of habitats, from thorn forest to tropical moist forest.
III. DIET:
An opportunistic feeder, taking almost any animal it can overpower -birds, monkeys, reptiles,
frogs, rodents. Feeds on the most abundant prey available to it, usually rodents. May prey on
domestic animals if available, but does little damage because of rareness. (Zoo diet consists of
chicken necks and prepared carnivore diet.)
IV. LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:
Fixed territory, which it marks with excrement and scent, and defends against its own kind.
Older accounts indicate that ocelot pairs often hunt together, sometimes mewing to keep in
touch with one another, but newer accounts state that they are solitary except when female is
being courted or has cubs. Adult females travel about half as far during a night as adult males.
Usually nocturnal. Are thought to be more faithful to mates than related species. Reproductive
years for females in captivity range form 2.5 to 12. In the tropics, breeding season is probably
not fixed, but in more northern, drier habitats two offspring are born during autumn months in a
rocky den or hollow log. The kittens are darker at birth but otherwise colored like their parents.
They are blind at first, but well-furred; reported to be playful and quite docile in youthful
captivity. Females prepare a den for their kittens in thick brush. Mothers leave at night to hunt, but spend each day with their kittens at the den. The kittens begin hunting with their mother
when they are about 3 months old. They stay with her until they are about a year old.
V. SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS:
Keeps to dense cover when possible; swims well and climbs for prey, though seems to prefer
ground hunting. Largely nocturnal, the spotted coat makes ocelots inconspicuous; very large
eyes enable them to see well in dim light.
VI. INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION:
Our ocelot spends many mornings up in the tree where she is very well camouflaged. Note the
white spots behind the ears. A number of dense forest animals also have these white spots
(mandrill, tiger). They may function to keep pairs together in courtship, to enable young to follow
parent.
VII. STATUS IN WILD:
Endangered. The ocelot is in great demand for the fur industry, which leads to abuse of existing
laws. The fur is expensive since no two animals have identical markings; fur dealers have
difficulty in matching pelts. Demand for ocelot skins increased much in the mid-1960s, but
known exports dropped since 1970, partly because of new conservation laws, and partly
because the accessible ocelot supply had been depleted. The ocelot has been on the protected
list since 1973 in Peru and Columbia, but many neighboring Latin American countries allow
hunting and commerce in the pelts, which are priced up to several hundred dollars in the crude
state. The U.S. has forbidden importation of ocelots or their pelts, except under permit, since
1972.
Interesting Fact: Historical records indicate that the Ocelot once occurred throughout south Texas, the southern Edwards Plateau, and along the Coastal Plain
VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Nowak, Ronald and John Paradiso. 1983. Walker's Mammals of the World, 4th Edition. The
John Hopkins University Press.
2. Redford, Kent and John Eisenberg. 1992. Mammals of the Neotropics: The Southern Cone.
Volume 2. Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and
London.
AC:10/92
