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Geoffroy's Cat (Leopardus geoffroyi)

Geoffroy's Cat | Leopardus geoffroyi photo
Geoffroy's Cat
Photograph by Carla Antonini. Some rights reserved.


Description

Geoffroy's cat is a small wild cat from South America. It is similar in size of a large domestic cat. Male cats are slightly larger than females. The fur is silver grey to yellowish-brown with a pattern of small dark brown or black spots all over the body. Thee are two black streaks down each cheek. All black individuals are fairly common. Animals from the northern part of the range have more yellow colour, and animals from the south are more silver grey.

Other Names

Oncifelis geoffroyi

Size

Head and body length: 42cm - 66cm (average 54cm). Tail length: 24cm - 36cm. Weight 3kg - 5kg (average 4kg).

Habitat

Geoffroy's Cat is found from sea level to 3,500m. It prefers dense vegetation near rivers. Also found in open woodland, savanna, marshland. They often climb trees and are good swimmers.

Food

Feeds on small mammals such as hares and small rodents. Also eats birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish. It hunts in trees and on the ground.

Breeding

The breeding season is from December to May. Females may produce one litter of one to four cubs after a gestation period of 67 - 78 days. The kittens are born in a den in a tree hollow, under rocks or dense vegetation. The young are born blind and eyes open after 8 - 12 days and are weaned at 8 to 10 weeks. They stay with their mother until about eight months when they become completely independent.

Range

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay.

Conservation Status

The conservation status in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals is "near threatened".



Classification
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Felidae
Genus:Leopardus
Species:geoffroyi
Relatives in same Genus
  Colocolo (L. colocolo)
  Kodkod (L. guigna)
  Andean Cat (L. jacobitus)
  Pampas cat (L. pajeros)
  Ocelot (L. pardalis)
  Oncilla (L. tigrinus)
  Margay (L. weidii)

Margay | Leopardus weidii photo
Geoffroy's Cat
Photograph by Daf-de. Some rights reserved.
Margay | Leopardus weidii photo
Leopardus geoffroyi, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
Photograph by Ltshears. License: Public Domain.