[Animals] This is the ocelot, the great 'solitary hunter' that dominates the American continent

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The ocelot is distinguished by being a solitary animal that uses its feline qualities to hunt and mark territory
The ocelot is a small feline, mainly nocturnal, which is characterized by its vision and hearing. Due to their sharpness, they are useful when hunting rodents and other smaller animals. Currently distributed in almost the entire American continent, the species is in danger of extinction.

Ocelot skin was, especially during the 1960s to 1980s, a valuable resource for the clothing industry. This trend has decreased in recent times. However, it is still a threat to the feline. In addition, the very complicated situation of this one is linked, in the same way, with the loss of its habitat. There is more. Here we talk about it.

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Ocelot, the little American “tiger”
The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is an animal whose name is derived from the Nahuatl ocelotl. Beyond this form, there are many other ways in which this mammal is called, depending on the country. And it is that the ocelot is distributed in a large number of territories of the American continent; It can be found from the southern United States to northern Argentina.

In Mexico, according to the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), the ocelot is found in the coastal plains of the Pacific and the Gulf. It can also be found in the Yucatan Peninsula, however, the feline is not found in the Baja California Peninsula or in the center of the country.

This carnivorous mammal is medium in size. Its head is small and its tail is short. Its coat also distinguishes it from other species, as it is made up of ringed spots that extend to the sides. The coloration is yellow, and white on the belly. The spots are black.

The greatest activity of the ocelot occurs at night, however, it also develops diurnal habits. According to the Institute of Ecology (INECOL), this feline is solitary and tends to seek refuge in caves, trunks, and branches. Essentially, ocelots only seek each other out for breeding. It should also be mentioned that, although they do not establish fixed burrows, these cats are very territorial.

PROFEPA points out that reproduction has to do with the geographical distribution of the species. This is considered frequent from December to February. The sexual maturity of the ocelot arrives between 24-30 months of age. Their gestation takes 70 to 85 days. A female can have five to ten cubs throughout her life.

Deparador of small animals, prey of the human being
The ocelot feeds on prey that is usually below 1 kilogram. Naturalista says that 50-66% of their diet is small mammals. Examples are: opossums, anteaters, rabbits and coatis. This animal is also a predator of reptiles, insects, amphibians, fish and birds.

The importance of the ocelot comes precisely from its role as a predator. The possible loss of this animal in Mexico would affect the lower trophic levels. This, apart from influencing their prey, would end up altering the ecosystem. Hence, the initiatives that take care of this feline see beyond the ethical.

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In Mexico, the ocelot is at risk of disappearing, according to what is published by the Official Mexican Standard NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. Much of this problem has to do with the different activities in the field, but also with poaching, which often has the objective of extracting the skin and tusks of the animal. It is considered a risk, in the same way, that many of the species on which this feline feeds are in danger of extinction.

PROFEPA has developed different strategies with a view to conserving the species in the country. The central functions are focused on monitoring activities that could affect the animal and trying to raise awareness about the issue.

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/ocelote-el-pequeno-tigre-de-america-que-esta-en-riesgo/