Ocelot is a medium-sized feline that occurs in several regions of the America. This is a species that has a very characteristic coat pattern, with yellowish hair and black spots in open rosettes that come together to form bands on the animal's body. They are solitary, territorial animals with typically nocturnal-crepuscular activity. Currently, ocelots are classified by the IUCN as Least Concern, but they still suffer from problems such as hunting, habitat destruction and logging.
Read too: Leopard — another animal belonging to the cat family
Abstract about ocelot
ocelots are animals mammals medium-sized companies that have a wide geographic distribution.
They have a yellowish coat with spots in open rosettes forming stripes.
Ocelots are solitary and territorial animals.
They are skilled animals for climbing trees, jumping and swimming.
Ocelots are carnivores and feed mainly on small mammals.
They usually give birth to one pup, however the litter can have one to four pups.
Characteristics of the ocelot
The ocelot is an animal belonging to the phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Felidae, genus leopard and kind Leopardus pardalis. It is one of the most scientifically known Neotropical feline species, and one of the reasons for this title is its wide geographic distribution.
These animals stand out for their coat pattern reminiscent of the Jaguar, having yellowish hair with dark spots. In ocelots, however, the black spots tend to form open rosettes that come together and form bands on the sides of the body. As well as in other animals that present these patterns in coats, the spots on the ocelot work like our fingerprint, for being uniqueThes.
The ocelot is an animal that has medium size, with a length ranging between 67 and 101.5 cm and a tail that represents about 46% of its body length. Males are generally heavier than females, and the weight of ocelots varies between 6.6 and 18.6 kg. It is worth noting that the weight of these felines varies according to the habitat in which they occur, being greater when they are in forest environments.
They are solitary and territorial animals.. The activity of the species is typically nocturnal-twilight. However, the ocelot can also be active during the day. However, normally, ocelots sleep during the day in tree hollows and bushes. They are skilled animals when it comes to climbing, jumping and swimming. the ocelots can live in the wild about ten years. In captivity, this life expectancy can reach 20 years.
habitat of the ocelot
the ocelot is found to occur from the U.S to the Argentina. At the Chile and on the high plateaus of Peru, the species does not occur. The species lives in different habitats, ranging from Cerrado to tropical forests. However, they are more associated with regions where there is dense vegetation cover.
Feeding of the ocelot
ocelots they are carnivorous animals that stand out for being opportunistic hunters. In general, they feed on small mammals, and may also ingest amphibians, reptiles It is birds. It is worth noting that these animals also feed on larger prey, such as monkeys, capybaras and pacas. In some cases, larger prey are their most important food.
See too:Lion — another feline considered a carnivorous animal
reproduction of the ocelot
Ocelots have a gestation period lasting between 70 and 85 days and can havein one to four pups in each litter, however, in general, in each pregnancy a calf is born. The interval of pregnancies in the wild is about two years. Cubs accompany their mother on hunts from the age of four months and, in general, remain with the mother until about two years of age.
Conservation status of the ocelot
Currently, the ocelot is classified as Least Concern nThe IUCN endangered species list(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources). Despite this classification, the current population trend is downward, and the species had already been classified in the past as vulnerable.
Ocelots were heavily hunted in the past for fur. However, at the moment, Hunting these animals is prohibited., which reduced the number of deaths. Hunting still takes place, but to a lesser extent than in the past. Ocelots still suffer from problems such as destruction of their habitat It is exploitation madeiqueen.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher