Details
Leopardus tigrinus
Oncilla is a small spotted cat of Central and South American forests, often called a tiger cat. Deforestation, difficult identification, and hybridization with relatives complicate conservation assessments.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses forests, cloud forest, shrubland, and grassland edges in Central and northern or eastern South America. Main habitat types in this guide are forest, grassland.
Typical length 38-59 cm, weight 1.5 kg-3 kg. A small body, fine dark spots, ringed tail, and large eyes are typical.
It is nocturnal and usually solitary. It travels through dense vegetation and forest edges at night and can climb well.
It is carnivorous. Small mammals, birds, lizards, and insects are taken.
Small litters are born in concealed dens and raised by the mother.
Habitat loss and human pressure make conservation attention important. Deforestation, difficult identification, and hybridization with relatives complicate conservation assessments.
