Leopardus pardalis
ocelot

Southwestern Texas to northern Argentina

Ocelots are known to inhabit a variety of different types of habitats. These range from dense thorn scrub in the Rio Grande Valley to the tropical forests of the Amazon. Ocelots are also known to live in the mountainous regions of Central America and the Andes. Their main requirement seems to be the presence of dense cover.

Ocelots are known for their beautiful coats. They have a short pelage that is marked with both black spots and rosettes. The base color ranges from tawny to reddish brown. Their ventral surfaces tend to be lighter or white in color. They have a single, white spot on the back of each ear and some white markings around their eyes and mouth. Two black lines run the length of either side of their face and the tail is marked with black bands. Males are slightly larger than females. Average male weight ranges from 10 to 11.5 kg and average female weight ranges from 8.8 to 9.4 kg. Head and body length ranges from 550 to 1000 mm, tail length ranges from 300 to 450 mm.

Primarily nocturnal cats, ocelots are generally solitary animals. Diurnal activity is documented but mainly during cool winter days, in areas where prey may be diurnal, or in areas subject to little human disturbance. Ocelots hunting during the day are very secretive, keeping to areas of dense brush or other heavy cover. They tend to be solitary except when mating or in the case of a female with cubs. Ocelots are not known to have any migratory patterns. Ocelot males confine themselves to a range of about 18 sq. km., while females inhabit smaller areas of about 11 sq. km. Home range size varies tremendously, though, depending on the type and quality of habitat, they can range from 2.3 square km to 18 square km. A male's home range usually overlaps that of several females.

Ocelots prey upon many small to medium-sized mammals and birds. They will also eat amphibians, fish, and reptiles. Known prey includes rabbits, rodents, pacarana, pacas, agouti, young peccaries, monkeys, lesser anteaters, iguanas, tree lizards, frogs, crabs, and small turtles. Ocelots pursue prey primarily on the ground.

Ocelots have been known to kill small domestic animals, such as poultry, but these are rare occurrences.

Ocelot skins are considered valuable. They are important attractions in zoos, and were once popular in the pet trade. Ocelots are also important members of functioning ecosystems, limiting populations of rodents and other small vertebrates.

Ocelots are protected by the Lacey Act, which makes it illegal to transport, import, export, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal that was taken in violation of the law. Ocelots do fairly well living in close proximity to humans as long as hunting pressure isn't too intense and they have the appropriate habitats available to them. Habitat destruction is the primary threat to ocelots throughout some areas of their range.

In the United States they are also protected by the Recovery Plan for the Listed Cats of Arizona and Texas, the primary objective of which is to maintain the ocelot populations in Texas. The plan includes provisions to further the study of ocelots in their wild habitat and an information and education program to get public support behind the effort to protect this species.