Ocelot
Endangered Animal
Ocelot
The ocelot, also known as the dwarf leopard, can grow to twice the size of a house cat. It is a wild cat distributed extensively over South America including the islands of Trinidad and Margarita, Central America, and Mexico. They have been reported as far north as Texas. Ocelots can adapt to human population, and some are found in the vicinity of settlements. They are nocturnal so they use their keen sight and hearing to hunt rabbits, roddents, iguanas, fish, and frogs. They also hunt in the trees and catch birds and monkeys. Unlike other cats, the ocelot can swim.
Ocelot
A Dwarf Leopard
Map
Locations where Ocelots are found
Baby Ocelot
Reasons why they are Extinct
Ocelots' fine fur has made them the target of countless hunters, and in many areas they are quite rare, including Texas, where they are endangered. Ocelots are protected in the United States and most other countries where they live.
Female ocelots have litters of two or three darkly colored kittens. In northern locations females den in the autumn, while in tropical climes the breeding season may not be fixed.