Pampas Cat
Oncifelis colocolo
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Pampas Cat Oncifelis colocolo |
Body Length(mm) - 560-700 Weight (kg) - 3-7 average Litter Size - 2 average Life Span - 9-16 years Status - Least Concern
O.c.braccatus - Brazil, N.Argentina O.c.budini - Argentina O.c.colocolo - Central Chile O.c.crespoi - N.W.Chile O.c.garieppi - Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia O.c.munoai - Uraguay O.c.paajeros - Argentina, Chile O.c.thomasi - Ecuador |
The
Pampas Cat or Grass Cat as it is known in parts of its
range, can grow up to a little over 2 feet in length with
a tail of approximately 12 inches. In appearance it
resembles a thick set large domestic cat - the base fur
which is fairly long, ranges in colour from grey to
yellow/brown or dark brown and is covered with horizontal
stripes or streaks of dark brown - the underparts and
legs are often lighter in colour. The head is relatively
small compared to body size and is marked with white
around its nose and eyes. The pampas cat is found in a
range that covers most of western central South America,
from Equador and Chile across the Andes Mountain into
Argentina and neighbouring countries. The habitat of the
cat is therefor varied - equally at home on the grassland
plains, dense equatorial forest and high altitude
mountain scrub. Although little is know of the pampas cats hunting and breeding habits, it is believed to hunt mostly at night and take small mammals and rodents and birds. It is also known to take domestic poultry in areas were it lives close to human habitation, notably along the coastal areas of Chile. The pampas cat is hunted throughout its range for its fur and is listed in CITES Appendix 2.
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