Biology: Ocelot

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Ocelot

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The fur of the Ocelot, with its dark brown irregular shaped spots and stripes, edged with black on a yellow/tawny background give this lithe, medium size cat a most distinctive appearance. Twice the size of the average housecat, the ocelot is a sleek animal.

The ocelots hunting technique is varied and is carried out mostly by night - its prey includes small deer, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and when available, fish. Unlike many cats, they do not avoid water and can swim well.

Many ocelots live under the leafy canopies of South American rain forests, but they also inhabit brushlands and can be found as far north as Texas. These cats can adapt to human habitats and are sometimes found in the vicinity of villages or other settlements.

As far back as the ancient Aztec civilisation, the ocelot has been hunted and prized for its fur and today, along with deforestation in much of its habitat, has led to the cats virtual extinction in some of its range. Once found in many areas of southern North America, Central America and much of South America, today the animal has almost disappeared form its range in the southern states of North America.

Sources: dialspace.dial.pipex.com
National Geographic

Pic: Wikipedia