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| Scientific Name: Oncifelis colocolo |
Size: Head and body 23.5-27.5 inches
(60-70cm);
tail 11.5-12.5 inches (29-32cm) |
| Weight: 9-15.5 pounds (4-7kg) |
| Distribution: South America in Ecuador,
Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. |
| Habitat: Open grasslands and some
areas found in humid forests. Prefers high altitude habitats. |
| Diet: Ground-nesting birds, small
mammals and especially guinea pigs. |
| Reproduction: Small litters of 1-3
kittens. |
| Status: Near
Threatened |
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| Known locally as the Colocolo, Gato
Pajero, Gato de Pajonal, the Paja-cat, or the Grass Cat. A mainly terrestrial
cat, it is typically found in the long grasses of the Pampas, where it can hide
and hunt. It does, however, have a wider range of habitats than most South American
felines and in some regions becomes much more arboreal. In certain areas, for
example, it inhabits humid forests and in others it may be found in quite mountainous
regions, although not as high up as its close relative, the South American Mountain
Cat. It is a nocturnal hunter, seeking out small mammals, especially guinea-pigs,
and ground-living |
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birds.
There are small litters of only one to three kittens. Little else is known about
its life in the wild, and it is notoriously difficult to keep in captivity. The
Pampas Cat is a robust animal, with a broad face and pointed ears. Its body is
little bigger than that of an ordinary domestic cat. Its spotted coat is soft
and long, and some of its spotted markings run into one another, creating dark
diagonal lines. There are strong bands of dark fur around its legs and tail. One
advantage of the lengthy coat of this species, is that when alarmed, the cat can
erect the fur on its back, and make itself appear suddenly much larger and more
threatening.
As with so many feline species, the Pampas Cat has suffered heavily at the hands
of fur trappers. One record, for example, shows that in the three years between
1976 and 1979, Argentina alone exported no fewer than 78,000 skins of this species. |
| PAMPAS
CAT PHOTOS |
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