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| Scientific Name: Leopardus tigrinus |
Size: Head and body 16-21.5 inches
(40-55cm);
tail 8-12 inches (20-30cm) |
| Weight: 4.5-6.5 pounds (2-3kg) |
| Distribution: From Coasta Rica in
Central America down as far south as northern Argentina. |
| Habitat: Strictly a forest cat, inhabiting
cloud forests and humid lowland forest. |
| Diet: Small mammals, rodents and birds. |
| Reproduction: After a gestation period
of about 75 days, female gives birth to 1-2 kittens |
| Status: Near
Threatened |
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| Also known as the Little Spotted Cat
or the Oncilla. Local names include Tigrillo Chico, Gato Tigre, Gato-do-Mato,
and Chivi. The Tiger Cat is poorly named, since its coat is covered with spots
rather than stripes. This is one of the smallest of the South American cats, with
a delicate build. Its coat is covered with dark spots which may have pale centers.
However, melanism is common and one in five is reported to have a black coat.
It is an extremely shy, forest-dwelling species and little is known of its natural
history. It hunts for small mammals and birds and is said to be an efficient climber.
The litter size is small - only one or two |
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| kittens.
Because of the banning of other wild cat species, the Tiger Cat became the major
source of wild skins for the fur trade in the 1980s, leading to an annual slaughter
that reached a peak in 1987, with 84,500 animals killed. Because of the widespread
hunting and the loss of habitat, this cat, like most other species of wild felines,
is becoming increasingly less common. |
| TIGER
CAT PHOTOS |
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