The Southern Tiger Cat

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

 

Southern Tiger Cat Conservation Status: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/54010476/54010576

 

Despite the Northern and Southern Tiger Cats sharing similar names- they are completely separate species. They have been genetically isolated from each other 3.7 million years.

“…These two populations show a high level of divergence comparable to the one between species of the Leopardus genus and both populations have a low genetic diversity. To add more genetic oddity for the tiger cat species, there has been ancient historic hybridization between the Pampas cat and the Northern Tiger Cat, intense hybridization with Margays and Ocelots in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Argentina, and ongoing bi-directional hybridization between the Southern Tiger Cat with the Geoffroy’s Cat. However, there has been no indication of mixing whatsoever between the the Northern and Southern Tiger Cats! In other words, tiger cats mixed with other species but not between themselves! The Southern Tiger cat is recognized as a monotypic species (meaning they have no subspecies.)” http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=600

 

The Southern Tiger Cat (also known as the Southern Oncilla) is a small wild cat, weighing in between 2-3.5 kg (4-8 lbs). They have a buff undercoat and elongated rosettes on their body. They can live up to 21 years. On average only have one kitten at a time, but can have up to four.

The Southern Tiger Cat eats a variety of small creatures including rodents, shrews, birds and lizards. They will occasionally eat larger prey like small primates, agoutis, and whistling-ducks. They appear to be able to hunt in trees.

 

The Southern Tiger Cat can also be melanistic (meaning their fur is all black).

 

 

More wild cats here