Margay

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Leopardus
Species: Leopardus wiedii

 

Margay Conservation Status: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/11511/0

 

 

The Margay is the best climber of all the wild cat species. It actually has specially adapted claws and ankle joints that allow it to move in 180 degrees- it can negotiate through a forest canopy almost like a monkey. It’s feet are very large in proportion to the rest of its body. The Margay is almost exclusively found in forest habitat.

The Margay is 80-130 cm (34-52 in) long with long legs and tail. It weighs 4-9 kg (9-20 lbs). Margays are found from Mexico all the way down through Peru, and into parts of Paraguay and the northern reaches of Argentina. It has buff tawny underfur and black rosettes all over.

The Margay like many cat species is a night hunter and it subsists upon small birds, frogs, bugs, and mammals- including monkeys. It takes prey off the ground too and even supplements its diet with fruit. They live up to 22 years. Not much else is known about these secretive rainforest cats.

 

 

More wild cats here