felis yagouaroundi

[Kit]

long-bodied long-tailed tropical American wildcat

[Tanya Shivari]

Felis yagouaroundi, also known as jaguarundi or eyra cat, is a small-sized wild cat native to Southern North America and South America. Its habitat ranges from Argentina to Texas. It is noted for its elongated body, relatively short legs, a small, flattened head with a pointed nose, similar to a weasel or an otter. They are known for their unique trait of having two distinct color phases, either blackish to brownish-grey (grey phase) or a bright, foxy red to chestnut (red phase). They are primarily diurnal, hunting during the day rather than at night, unlike many other cats. Their diet mostly consists of small mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, and fish. The species is currently listed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.