items: 0
total: $0.00
Home
Catalog
Shopping Cart
Shipping Info
Contact Us
Animal Facts
Catalog
>
Returning Customers
click here
to log in.
Search
Catalog
Shipping Info
Contact Us
Animal Facts
Ocelot
Ocelot Facts and Information
The
Ocelot
(
Leopardus pardalis
) is the best known of the South American cats. They live in rain forests, montane forests, thick bush, semi-deserts, coastal marsh, and along river banks. Ocelots are found in Central and South America—except for Chile—and in southern Texas.
Ocelots eat nocturnal rodents, armadillos, lesser anteaters, deer, squirrel monkeys and land tortoises. During the wet season they will also prey on fish and land crabs. Sometimes ocelot will dine on birds or reptiles.
From the time of the Aztecs, the ocelot was hunted for its distinct pelt. (The fur trade is now outlawed.) The markings of ocelots are blotches of darker color surrounded by black outlines. Sometimes these spots run together to form stripes. Ocelot base fur color ranges from yellow/cream to darker yellow/brown and can vary by habitat and is lighter on the belly and throat. Similar to some other cats, they have black ear backs with a spot in the center, in this case yellow. Ocelots have black rings on their tails. On their cheeks they have 2 stripes; a stripe runs from the top of the eye over the head.
Ocelots range in length from 38 to 60 inches (including tail), yet only weight 20 to 35 pounds. They stand 16 to 20 inches tall. They have good night vision and hearing, and have retractable claws. The ocelot swims well. They are territorial, and solitary animals (except for a female with kittens).
Fun Ocelot Facts
- Its name came from the Mexican Aztec word
tlalocelot
, which means field tiger.
- The ocelot is considered a medium sized cat.
- Ocelots are endangered by illegal hunting, both for their furs and to capture them for exotic pets, and by loss of habitat. In the US they are often killed by cars when crossing a road.
- During the day ocelots sleep on a branch, in a hollow tree, or in dense vegetation.
- Ocelot litters (1 to 4 kittens) are born once every two years to a female.
- Without teeth for chewing, ocelots tear their food to pieces and swallow it whole.
References
Belize Zoo
http://www.belizezoo.org/zoo/zoo/mammals/oce/oce1.html
Big Cat Rescue
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/ocelot.htm Big
Cats Online
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/agarman/ocelot.htm
Cat Survival Trust
http://www.catsurvivaltrust.org/ocelot.htm
National Geographic
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/ocelot.html
National Wildlife Federation
http://www.nwf.org/cats/pdfs/ocelotfacts.pdf
North Carolina Zoo
http://www.nczoo.org/animal_id/sonora_desert_ocelot.cfm
San Diego Zoo
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-ocelot.html
Who Zoo
http://whozoo.org/Intro2001/deirelso/DLE_Ocelot.html
Photo Credits
GeekPhilosopher Free Stock Photos
Click here
to go back to Animal Facts and Information.
Animal Masks
Animal Inflatables
Stuffed Animals
Leopard Print Gifts
Party Supplies
Animal Print Bedding
Leopard Print Pillow
LE329 -
Price: $19.99
Large Penguin Inflatable
PG49 -
Price: $28.99
Zebra Bedding
Z339 -
Price: $94.99 – $132.99
Chimpanzee Monkey Mask
M104 -
Price: $8.99
Gund Stuffed Animals
Animal Costumes
Animal Stationary
Animal Greeting Cards
