Little Spotted Cat

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Tiger Cat redirects here. For the Tom and Jerry Tales episode, see Tiger Cat (Tom and Jerry Tales episode).

The Little Spotted Cat (Leopardus tigrinus, sometimes Oncifelis tigrinus or Felis tigrina) is also known as Oncilla, Tigrillo, Cunaguaro or Tiger Cat. It is a close relative of the Ocelot and the Margay; its habitat is the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. The Little Spotted Cat is a nocturnal animal, which hunts for rodents and birds. The Tiger Cat grows to be about 40-50 cm (18" to 2') long, plus 30-40 cm (10-20") long in the tail. While this is somewhat larger than the average house cat, Leopardus tigrinus is slightly lighter, weighing 2-3 kg (5-10 lbs.), less than a standard domestic cat.

[edit] Subspecies

• Leopardus tigrinus tigrinus, eastern Venezuela, Guyana, northeastern Brazil
• Leopardus tigrinus guttulus, central and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, northern Argentina
• Leopardus tigrinus pardinoides, western Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador

[edit] References

• Cat Specialist Group (2002). Leopardus tigrinus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened