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Field guide · species

Jaguarundi

Herpailurus yagouaroundi

The jaguarundi is a slender, long-bodied American cat with a profile quite unlike a spotted ocelot. Its different silhouette illustrates how much variation exists within the cat family.

Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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Tree of lifeScientific lineage

Advanced classification

Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

cellular organisms cellular root
Eukaryota domain
Opisthokonta clade
Metazoa kingdom
Eumetazoa clade
Bilateria clade
Deuterostomia clade
Chordata phylum
Craniata subphylum
Vertebrata clade
Gnathostomata clade
Teleostomi clade
Euteleostomi clade
Sarcopterygii superclass
Dipnotetrapodomorpha clade
Tetrapoda clade
Amniota clade
Mammalia class
Theria clade
Eutheria clade
Boreoeutheria clade
Laurasiatheria superorder
Carnivora order
Feliformia suborder
Felidae family
Felinae subfamily
Herpailurus genus
Herpailurus yagouaroundi species

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Physical traits

A small head, elongated body and relatively short legs produce a low outline. Coat color varies between darker and reddish forms.

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Habitat and range

Scrub, woodland, grassland edges and forested habitats can be used where adequate cover exists.

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Diet and nutrition

Small mammals, birds, reptiles and other small animals are hunted.

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Behavior and activity

Observations include solitary animals and pairs. Limited encounters should not be turned into a rigid claim that every jaguarundi follows the same social routine.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

Geographic distribution

The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, United States?, Uruguay?.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗