Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) Fact Sheet: Summary

Describer (Date): Linnaeus, 1758

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Subfamily: Felinae

Genus: Leopardus

Species: Leopardus pardalis

Subspecies:  Leopardus pardalis pardalis
Subspecies: Leopardus pardalis mitis

Body Weight: 11-16 kg (24-35 lb)

Body Length: 70-100 cm (10-40 in)

Tail Length: 27-45 cm (11-18 in)

Pelage: Short, sleek hair. Background color varies from grayish to buff to cinnamon. Chains of black-bordered spots running along shoulders and back. Tail ringed with black or with black bars on top.

Range: Mexico, Central America, to NE Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay. A small population (fewer than 100 estimated) in southern Arizona and South Texas.

Habitat: Prefers dense habitat cover; sea level to about 1,200 m (3,937 ft)

IUCN Status: Least Concern (2014 assessment)

CITES Appendix: Appendix I

Populations in the Wild: No global estimates; local estimates available for some parts of the ocelot's range

Locomotion: Slow steady walk when hunting - 0.3 km/hr (0.2 mph); powerful climbers and adept swimmers.

Activity Cycle: Mainly a nocturnal predator but sometimes hunt in day (if prey sought is active in day).

Social Groups: Mainly solitary but independent young may associate with parents. Males and females may associate even when not breeding.

Diet: Highly adaptable generalist predator; consume small and medium-sized prey as available.

Predators: Puma, jaguar, harpy eagle, anaconda, and boa constrictor.

Sexual Maturity: Females can reproduce at 18-22 months; males produce sperm at 2.5 years.

Gestation: 79-85 days

Litter Size: 1-2, rarely 3 or 4

Birth weight: 250 g (8.8 oz)

Age at Weaning: May continue to nurse for 6 months; take solid food at 8 weeks.

Typical Life Expectancy:
Managed care: median life expectancy of about 15 to 16 years

Feature Facts

• Nicknamed the "ghost cat" for its secretive ways
• Hunt at night
• Frequently solitary
• Mark territories by clawing, urinating, or defecating on objects
• Powerful tree climbers
• Breed year-round
• Hunted by the millions until the 1980s, when commercial trade in skins was banned
• Largest populations in Brazil and Argentina