Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
Life Span: 10-13 years
Population Size: ~1.5 million
Geographical Location: Ocelots are found in areas such as the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America. The habitat that they prefer ranges from tropical forests, grasslands, mangrove forests, and marshes.
Diet: They are strictly carnivorous and hunt mainly at night because they are nocturnal. They eat animals such as mice, rabbits, rats, birds, snakes, lizards, fish, and frogs.
Size: 2.2-3.3 feet long, 40-50 cm tall, 18-44 lbs
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Predators: Because Ocelots are on the smaller side, there are many possibilities for larger animals to prey on them. Known predators of the Ocelots include Jaguar, Cougar, (Big Cats), Coyotes, Harpy Eagle (Birds of Prey), Snakes (Constrictors), and (like most animals) humans (for fur).
Reproduction: Ocelots do not have a specific season that they mate in (meaning there are no particular months that they chose to mate within). Their gestation period lasts between 79-82 days and they produce a litter size of 1-2 kittens.
Communication: The types of ways Ocelot’s communicate with eachother ranges from body language, scent marking and vocalization. Some of the vocalizations that they exhibit include “chuckles”, “mutters”, and the “yowl”.
- Fun Facts:
- Their life span increase up to 20 years if they are in captivity
- They will sometimes give birth in hollows of trees
- They are good swimmers
- They are most active at dusk
- Also known as the “Painted Leopard” and “Dwarf Leopard”
- Females are called “Queens”
- Males are called “Torns”
- Ocelots are solitary creatures and only come together to mate or if the mother is raising her young (but if there is a group of them they are known as “clowder” or “clutter”)
Websites Used for Research: http://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/ocelot/summary http://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-ocelots/
References: Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) Fact Sheet. c2011-2019. San Diego (CA): San Diego Zoo Global; 2020 Feb 4. http://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/ocelot.