Margay

Leopardus wiedii

The margay is a small American cat especially noted for climbing. Its life in trees distinguishes it from superficially similar cats that spend a larger share of their hunting time on the ground.

Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

Compare species

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
Leopardus genus
Leopardus wiedii species

Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

Physical traits

A spotted body and long tail contribute to its slender appearance.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

Habitat and range

Tropical and subtropical forests provide connected branches, cover and potential prey.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

Diet and nutrition

Small mammals, birds and other small animals are taken, including prey encountered above ground.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

Behavior and activity

Exceptional climbing ability includes unusual hind-foot mobility. A long tail helps the animal negotiate branches and changing body positions.

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, Uruguay, Venezuela, United States?.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗