Ocelot Unique

Animals Unique | Ocelot Unique | Ocelot Classification and EvolutionThe Ocelot is a medium-small sized cat native to That Is the jungles of South America. The Ocelot is also known as the Painted Leopard due to the beautifully distinctive markings on it's fur as it displays dark rosettes, along with spots and stripes.

 

Similar in colouration to the much smaller but closely related Margay, the Ocelot was nearly driven to extinction in the 20th century They were commonly hunted as for Their fur. Today however, national protection throughout much of Their natural range has Meant That the Ocelot population has been Able to recover somewhat. The Ocelot is a strong and agile cat That can not only climb and run well but They are also good swimmers as They are not afraid of water like paint Numerous other species.Ocelot Anatomy and AppearanceThe Ocelot has short and thick, velvety fur That is usually Tawny-yellow to reddish-gray in color and marked with black chain-like rosettes on it's back and sides. There are dark spots on Their legs and stripes on Their head and face the which are distinctive to the individual. They have a long tail That Is Generally marked with dark rings and large paws in relation to Their body size. Like all feline species (with the exception of Cheetahs) the Ocelot can retract it's claws into protective pockets That Prevent Them from Becoming blunt whilst the Ocelot is walking about. 

 

 

Males growing niche to be substantially larger than Females and can grow up to a meter in length with a tail half Their body size on top of that. The Ocelot has sharply the which pointed front teeth are used for biting down on it's prey and blade-like teeth in each cheek That are used for tearing up food.Ocelot Distribution and HabitatThe Ocelot is found throughout the South American Tropics but is most common in the dense jungles of the Amazon Basin. They are however, fairly widespread and Inhabit a variety of different habitats from southern Texas to northern Argentina. The Ocelot is an incredibly adaptable animal That can be found in variety of habitats Including tropical forests, grasslands, mangrove forests and marshes Providing That there is plenty of dense vegetation. Although the Ocelot is usually found below 1.200 meters above sea-level, They are also known to Inhabit the high slopes of the Andes Mountains and have been found at heights up to 3.800 meters. As strong swimmers, They are also found in seasonally flooded Sometimes forests and have been reported as living close to human settlements.Ocelot Behaviour and LifestyleThe Ocelot is a solitary animal That occupies a home range That can be up to 30 square kilometres depending on the surrounding environment. Males patrol territories to growing niche That are Often double the size of the Females', and one the which Overlaps the home ranges of a number of Females (with the which the male has breeding rights). 

 

 

The Ocelot is a nocturnal animal spends the days That sleeping either in thick vegetation or on a high and Leafy branch. They have excellent sight, touch and hearing the which all help them when hunting at night, and They Communicate Between one another using the which the soft meows turn into loud yowls when looking for a mate. The Ocelot is an incredibly secretive animal That is very rare in some parts of it's natural range and one That relies Heavily on dense vegetation, only venturing into open areas during the night.Ocelot Reproduction and Life CyclesIn the heart of the Tropics, Ocelots are known to breed all year round but at the most northern and southern ends of it's natural range, the breeding season tends to occur towards the end of the summer. After mating, the female Ocelot will find a Crevice in the rocks, a hollow tree or will nest in a dense and Thorny thicket in order for her to have some privacy and protection whilst she is Preparing to give birth. Following a gestation period of up to 85 days the female Ocelot will give birth to 2 or 3 kittens, the which are born blind and have a thin coat of dark fur. Within a month, the Ocelot kittens can view Their surroundings and Their fur will have much denser and more Become colorful. Although Ocelot kittens are fully grown by the time They are a year old and are capable of Becoming independent, They Will Often be tolerated in their mother's home range for a couple of years before They leave to Establish a territory of Their Own.Ocelot Diet and PreyThe Ocelot is a Carnivorous animal That Hunts for food under the cover of night and does so by stalking it's prey primarily on the ground. 

 

 

Although small rodents Mammals Such as make up the majority of its diet, They are known to hunt a variety of small animals Including rabbits, birds, fish, crabs, lizards and snakes and will even hunt small deer on occasion. The Ocelot is also known to eat monkeys, turtles, armadillos and anteaters but have been known to cause problems by killing domestic birds when there is not enough food available. As the Ocelot happily preys upon Numerous different animal species, They are a vital part of local Their Ecosystems and Their the vast menu also helps them to more easily adapt to varying habitats.Ocelot Predators and ThreatsNot only is the Ocelot's Important predator in it's environment but also preyed upon They are by a number of large carnivores. Other felines Including Jaguars and Pumas prey on the smaller Ocelot, along with Birds of Prey Such as the Harpy Eagle and the world's biggest snake, the Anaconda. The unique and distinctive fur of the Ocelot though actually provides it with some camouflage in the dense vegetation surrounding it but it is also this has led to fur That enormous population declines throughout much of it's historical range. Their hunted for fur (known as pelts) particularly from the 1960s to the 1980s, the Ocelot nearly Became extinct in the wild along with the fact That They were also captured and kept as exotic pets. Since the Ocelot Became a protected species, though in many countries, but numbers have Risen They are now Threatened by deforestation of Their habitats.Ocelot Interesting Facts and FeaturesIn a similar way to many other smaller species of wildcat, the Ocelot has been kept as a pet by many people throughout history. The most famous of these was the abstract artist Salvador Dali was known to WHO travel frequently with his domesticated Ocelot. It was even thought That Mr Dali actually took his pet Ocelot on an ocean liner! The Ocelot is also thought to have been Worshipped by ancient Peruvian cultures (in a similar way to the Ancient Egyptians worshipping cats), and these cultures would depict the beautiful Often Ocelot in their art work. The Ocelot is thought to be active for at least 12 hours a day and can travel distances of up to seven miles in That time, with lazy Generally covering twice the distance of Their female counterparts.Ocelot Relationship with HumansThe Ocelot was seen as a sacred animal by ancient cultures but it's beautifully patterned and soft fur Quickly attracted the attention of hunters. 

 

 

Ocelot population numbers were severely depleted throughout Their natural range particularly during the 1960s and 1970s when They were thought to be so extensively hunted, that up to 200 000 skins were being traded each year and were selling for around 40.000 U.S. dollars. Despite being wild and dominant predators, the Ocelot has also been captured to sell into the exotic pet trade the which fortunately ceased after the Ocelot was listed on the Endangered Species List. Despite the fact That the Ocelot is now protected in most of the countries throughout it's natural range and numbers have Increased, particularly in Certain Populations areas are being severely affected by growing human activity, primarily from deforestation and growing settlements.Ocelot Conservation Status and Life TodayToday, the Ocelot is listed by the IUCN as being a species of Least Concern That Is Becoming of extinct in their natural environment in the near future. Although some Populations are small and unstable, the Ocelot is widespread but the general population is now decreasing trend. Mainly this is due to habitat loss as the vast areas particularity in the Amazon, are subject to drastic deforestation and no longer Provide the dense cover and adequate food supply needs That the Ocelot to survive.

Ocelot Unique Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: mammals
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Leopardus
Scientific Name: Leopardus pardalis
Common Name: Ocelot
Other Name (s): Painted Leopard
Group: Mammal
Number Of Species: 1
Location: South America
Habitat: Tropical Jungle, Grassland and marshes
Colour: Tan, Yellow, Red, Grey, Black
Skin Type: Fur
Size (L): 55cm - 100cm (22in - 40in)
Weight: 11.5kg - 16kg (25lbs - 35lbs)
Top Speed: 61kph (38mph)
Diet: Carnivore
Prey: rodents, Lizards, Deer
Predators: Jaguar, Puma, Harpy Eagle
Lifestyle: Nocturnal / Crepuscular
Group Behaviour: Solitary
Life Span: 8-12 years
Age Of Sexual Maturity: 2-3 years
Gestation Period: 79-85 days
Average Litter Size: 2
Name Of Young: Kitten
Age Of Weaning: 6 weeks
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Estimated Population Size: 800.000
Biggest Threat: Habitat loss
Most Distinctive Feature: Rosettes, spots and stripes on fur
Fun Fact: Also known as the Painted Leopard!