Oncilla, codcode, Geoffroy cat, fisher cat - appearance, habitat, way of life, behavior, nutrition, reproduction, natural enemies, keeping in captivity. Jaguar, the single name of this magnificent spotted cat (the third largest in the world after the tiger and lion), has fascinated and awe the inhabitants of Central and South America for centuries. There are many legends, tales and parables about this strong and dangerous beast. But did you know that a whole group of wild cats lives in the same places, very similar in appearance to their large relative - the jaguar, but significantly smaller in size. And although the size of these miniature jaguars seriously pumped up, their habits and hunting talents are in no way inferior to the skills of their famous counterpart.
Description of Oncilla
The first jaguar cat that will be discussed is the oncilla. The name of this beast, translated from the local dialect, means “little jaguar”. In the scientific world, the "little jaguar" is also called the small tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) or simply the tiger cat (Felis tigrina). There are several subspecies of this mini jaguar, differing in the length of the coat, color and intensity of the drawing of the pattern.
Oncilla was singled out as a separate species by zoologists only very recently in 2013. Also, the DNA analysis showed the presence of only 36 chromosomes in this animal, while most of the felines have 38. And scientists have also determined that oncilla cats interbreed with individuals not of their own species, but with Geoffroy cats living in the same regions …
- External appearance. The appearance of this cat is closest to the appearance and color of the South American jaguar. But the dimensions … The body length is only some 80–96 centimeters, and the body weight of the largest individuals reaches only 2.5 kg, which is 44 times less than the weight of an average jaguar. Nevertheless, this miniature jaguar is very beautiful. Wonderful flexible and athletic elongated body, with strong bones and strong legs. Small head with a pretty muzzle on a muscular neck of medium length. Huge honey-yellow eyes, large ears, rounded at the ends. Dense, like "stuffed", short and very soft fur of a magnificent yellow-ocher color with clear spots of the pattern "like a jaguar".
- Distribution area and habitat. Oncilla is common throughout Central and South America. It is especially common in Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Paraguay and Ecuador. The northernmost recorded habitat is Costa Rica. The greatest preference for their existence is given to miniature jaguars not in the alpine humid evergreen forests of South America, but they are often found in more arid territories, as well as in places of felled eucalyptus forests or in abandoned plantings. Sometimes this minyaguar cat can be found right next to a person's home.
- Onicilla lifestyle. This feline is a lone nocturnal predator, whose main prey are all types of small rodents in South America, birds, tree frogs, reptiles (non-venomous) and even some small primates and their young. And if most of the night oncillas are spent hunting, then during the day these predators prefer to rest on the branches of tall trees, safe from larger predators. Despite the fact that the size of the oncilla is small, their character is quite aggressive and bloodthirsty. Defending their territory or life, they are able to seriously stand up for themselves, fearlessly attacking a border violator or an attacking predator.
- Enemies. Despite the fact that the size of the oncilla is very small, it practically does not have natural enemies capable of catching this dexterous and nimble cat. Its main enemies are poachers who hunt for its beautiful fur. But nowadays, not even illegal hunters (oncilla is taken under protection by almost all states), but logging companies, non-stop destroying their main habitat, the evergreen forests of South America, are causing more and more harm to the population of these cute animals.
- Keeping in captivity. Oncillas are not bad at taming, but their conditions of detention must meet all the requirements for keeping wild animals. Oncilla should never be seen as a harmless house cat. She always remains a wild and dangerous predator, with aggressive instincts. This should not be forgotten.
Due to the difficulty of observation, little is known about the wild life of these mysterious miniature jaguars. The knowledge of zoologists is mainly based on observations of individuals living in captivity.
So it is known that the sexual maturation of females occurs at the age of about one and a half years, and males at the age of 2 years, and that the mating season of these animals is very short and is only a few days a year. Only 1-2 blind kittens weighing no more than 120 grams are born in the litter. Kittens' eyes open only at the end of the third week of existence. Feeding of babies with milk by the mother-cat continues for three months. After which they completely switch to solid meat food. The independent existence of offspring begins at ten months.
The recorded lifespan of oncillas in captivity is about 20 years. In nature (as zoologists suggest) - up to 12-15 years.
Breed Kodkod
Kodkod is another type of wild cat that resembles a small jaguar in its appearance. Kodkod or, as it is also called, the Chilean cat (Oncifelis guigna, Felis guigna) is the closest relative of the Oncilla, although it differs somewhat from it in appearance.
- External appearance. The size of this representative of the feline family is almost half the size of the oncilla. The maximum body length is only 52 centimeters. The maximum body weight is 2.7 kg. Kodkod is the smallest wild cat in South America. The Chilean codcode is similar in appearance to the oncilla, but differs in a more dense physique and a heavy skeleton, a more brown or grayish-brown coat color and finer spotting. Sometimes it is completely black in color.
- Distribution area and habitat. The Chilean cat lives mainly in the southwestern part of South America, in the central and southern part of the state of Chile (hence the name of the species) and slightly in Argentina. In nature, it is found in temperate humid and coniferous forests of the South American continent, in zones of hard-leaved shrubs, near rivers and lakes. Sometimes these animals can be found near human habitation (especially in quieter areas where deforestation and hunting are not carried out).
- Lifestyle. Kodkod is a loner predator that goes hunting, usually at dusk. However, if the places are sufficiently reserved, he can hunt in the daytime. The diet of the kodkod is mainly small rodents and birds. Sometimes - non-poisonous reptiles and some insects. It is not uncommon for domestic geese, ducks and chickens to become victims of the code. The lifestyle of this cat is very secretive and has not yet been studied enough. It is only known that these animals spend most of the day in tall trees, going down only for hunting or to indicate their habitat, the size of which reaches 2.5 square meters. km. In low-growing forests and shrub undergrowth, the kodkod hides in the thickets during the daytime or makes a lair for itself in gullies and ravines. Puberty of representatives of this species occurs at about 2 years. Pregnancy of females lasts 73–78 days on average. In the litter, from 1 to 3 kittens are born, feeding with milk lasts up to 3 months. Life expectancy, even under good conditions in captivity, is relatively short - 10–11 years. In nature, even less is assumed.
- Enemies. This wild cat has no natural enemies. It is very difficult to catch him. Therefore, the main problem for the population of this amazing animal is the deforestation by humans for coffee plantations, as well as poaching for the sake of the beautiful skin of the animal. Often, farmers kill kodkods in revenge for exterminated poultry, and sometimes these animals become accidental victims of hunting foxes or rabbits with dogs.
- Keeping in captivity. Kodcodes are poorly tamed, and therefore kept in captivity in cages and aviaries.
Geoffroy's cat
And another mini jaguar of South America - Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi, Felis geoffroyi, Oncifelis geoffroyi), named after the discoverer of this species, French naturalist Jofre Saint-Hilaire. She is also a close relative of the Minyaguar Oncilla.
At the moment, four subspecies of this animal living in different regions have been described:
- Felis geoffroyi geoffroyi - in central Argentina;
- Felis geoffroyi Paraguayae - in southern Brazil and Uraguay;
- Felis geoffroyi Euxantha - in Bolivia;
- Felis geoffroyi Salinarum - in the Chaco region.
Description of the breed:
- External appearance. This animal is very similar to the oncilla, already described above, differing only in slightly smaller body size with a much larger body mass (due to its massive skeleton). The body weight of a wild Geoffroy cat reaches almost 5 kg in males and up to 4 kg in females. Body length - from 45 to 75 centimeters. The color of the animal is golden yellow with a distinct black pattern, combining spots, circles, stripes and rings. Completely coal-black individuals are not uncommon.
- Distribution area and habitat. Geoffroy's cat is common in the south of South America - in southern Brazil, southern Argentina and southern Patagonia. The habitat covers wooded areas of foothills and low mountains, pampas, saline deserts, areas of small forests, dense bushes and even swamps. Geoffroy's cat is a fairly versatile animal that can successfully survive in areas with different natural conditions and climates. This beast is extremely rarely adjacent to humans.
- Enemies. The main enemy of this beast is a person who not only hunts her for her beautiful fur (currently hunting and trade in these animals is universally prohibited), but also destroys her natural habitat, draining swamps, cutting down forests and shrubs. These animals do not have natural enemies capable of damaging populations
- Keeping in captivity. Adult feral cats of this species are difficult to tame. It is possible only for a while to "domesticate" kittens, which, growing up, still acquire all the habits and habits of their wild brethren. Therefore, it is necessary to keep such pets with all care, avoiding carelessness.
- Lifestyle. Geoffroy's cat, like most representatives of the feline family, leads a solitary lifestyle. It hunts on the ground, trees, in bushes or near water bodies, mainly at night. Hunting trophies include not only small rodents and birds, but also guinea pigs, agouti, reptiles, insects, bird eggs and river fish. The animal swims perfectly and is not afraid of water at all. It happens that these animals also attack small domestic animals (which is why the affected farmers often hunt them themselves). During the daytime, this mini jaguar prefers to hide in a bush or in a tree (in a wooded area). The areas of his habitat are obligatory and regularly marked. The usual size of the site reaches from 4 to 10 square meters. km.
- Puberty in cats of this species occurs at the age of two. Mating usually takes place in a tree. In forest areas, newborn kittens are subsequently placed there (usually in a hollow). In treeless areas, Geoffroy's cat makes secret lairs in thickets or in crevices of rocks. From 1 to 3 kittens are born in a litter (usually up to two litters per year). Lactation lasts about three months, after which the offspring switches to solid meat food.
- Life span these beautiful animals in nature are not great, in captivity they sometimes live up to 14 years.
Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
And in conclusion, about the cat, which also looks like a miniature jaguar, but lives very far from it - in Southeast Asia. Her name is fishing cat or civet cat.
- External appearance. The civet fisher cat outwardly resembles both the civet (which is why it got its name), and another, little-known to a wide circle, wild cat - the jaguarundi, living in South America. The same strong constitution, strong elongated body with a large head on a muscular neck, slightly short legs. The dimensions of a civet cat are not the largest: the body of females reaches 70 centimeters in length, cats are much larger - from 86 to 117 centimeters. The body weight in females is up to 7–7.5 kg, in males - up to 12 kg. Yes, the fishing cat is quite a heavy animal, but at the same time it is an extremely agile and fast predator. The fur of the animal is dense and harsh, dyed in a gray-olive color with dark oval and oblong spots.
- Distribution area and habitat. The main habitat of these animals is the Indian subcontinent, but it is also found on the islands of Java and Ceylon. Has been spotted many times in Malaysia and Thailand. Basically, these animals prefer the marshy areas of the peninsula, rich in streams, rivers and reservoirs, overgrown with reed or mangrove thickets, which allows them not only to engage in their favorite type of hunting - fishing, but also reliably hide from other predators if necessary.
- Enemies. In nature, the civet cat has practically no enemies; it is agile enough to escape from a large predator in time. Smaller predators themselves do not like to mess with him because of his aggressive grumpy nature. Therefore, the main enemy of this cat is a man, who by his activity destroys the habitual habitat of these mini jaguars of Asia. Hunting this cat, for the sake of its fur and fangs, also caused irreparable harm to the population. Nowadays, the fishing cat is listed in the Red Book and is universally protected by law.
- Keeping in captivity. It was possible to "domesticate" the civet cat only when people began to raise it almost from infancy. Adult animals, on the other hand, practically do not lend themselves to domestication. It is currently illegal to breed civet cats at home.
- Lifestyle. As the name suggests, the main diet of these magnificent predators is fish. That is why the favorite place of stay of civet cats is reed thickets near water bodies. In addition to fish, which these cats deftly catch with their claws in shallow water or, diving after it to depths, these predators also feed on crabs, molluscs and some amphibians. Occasionally they supplement their diet with snails, small rodents, birds, their chicks and eggs.
The civet cat is a lone hunter who hunts at any time of the day and prefers to mate for only a short time to mate. I must say that the fishing cat has a rather complex and quarrelsome character, he often comes into conflict, both with his feline relatives and other inhabitants of the mangrove forest and surrounding swamps.
The mating season of these animals happens several times a year, lasting, each time within a week. Pregnancy of fishing cats lasts for 64–70 days. Two to three kittens are born in the litter, which the mother feeds with milk for three months. Kittens become adults and almost independent by the age of nine months.
The lifespan of these mini jaguars in nature has not been precisely established, but in captivity it ranges from 15 to 24 years.
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