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Jaguarundi

Species Facts

Although the jaguarundi is the most widely distributed and commonly seen cat in Central and South America, its biology and behavior largely remain a mystery. 

  • Scientific Designation: Herpailurus yaguarondi
  • Endangered Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Lifespan: Up to 15 years
  • Weight: 2-9 kg
  • Body Length: 51-77 cm
  • Shoulder Height: 25-35 cm
  • Tail Length: 28-61 cm

Profile

This cat has a very unusual appearance. In fact, it hardly looks like a cat at all. It has an elongated, low-slung body that is reminiscent of a marten. It is dark-colored with short legs, a long and slender body, and a relatively long tail. The jaguarundi has a small, slim head with short, rounded, widely separated ears. It is the least marked of all the small cats, with the fur being mainly uniform in color.

It differs from most other South American cats, but shows some behavioral similarities with the puma. While the other small South American cats have 36 chromosomes, the jaguarundi has 38, the same number as Old World cats. In fact, DNA techniques suggest that the jaguarundi is more closely related to the cheetah and the puma, rather than to other South American cats.

Diet

The species has been observed moving about and hunting at all times of the day and night. The jaguarundi usually preys on small animals less than 1 kilogram, such as rodents, birds, and reptiles. However, the cat is an opportunistic predator and will take the most abundant and easily catchable prey.

Distribution map centers on Central and South America. There is a very large region shaded in across most of South America, as well as up into Mexico and even into Texas. The shaded region indicates where the Jaguarundi is extant, or resident.

Species Distribution

The jaguarundi ranges from southern Texas through the coastal lowlands of Mexico, southward throughout Central America. Within its range, the jaguarundi lives in elevations ranging from sea level to 3200 meters. A solitary predator, it lives in a wide variety of habitats, from semiarid thorn forest to wet grasslands. However, it is usually observed in areas of dense cover mixed with openings and edges. 

Distribution map courtesy of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), compiled in 2015.

Threats to the Jaguarundi

The jaguarundi has the lowest conservation priority ranking (Least Concern [LC]) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is considered to be relatively common. This is due to the fact that jaguarundi pelts have little commercial value, and the species is not subjected to the same intense hunting pressure as the small spotted cats. However, in Central America and North America, the jaguarundi is listed on appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

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