Description: Coat: Ocher-yellow to orange-yellow in forested areas and greyer in arid scrubland. Both types are black striped and spotted with white undersides. The tail is ringed, but paler below and unmarked generally, and the eyes are brownish. The hair on the withers curls up to lie forward on the upper neck.
Size: Head and body length 65-135cm, tail length 27-45cm.
Weight: 11-16kg.
Senses: Excellent climbers and swimmers.
Habitat: Forest and steppe, prefers areas with thick bush.
Range: Pairs hold territories together that they mark together.
Distribution: Arizonia to N Argentina.
Status: Rare due to persicution for pelts in fur coat trade. The trade is now in decline.
Daily Rhythm: Nocturnal, spending the day sleeping in the branches of trees on the shared territory.
Voice: Cannot roar, they growl and hiss when aggressive or frightened and pur and meow for other purposes.
Enemies:
Prey: Small mammals (deer, rodents, monekys), birds and reptiles (snakes and others).
Food and Feeding: Though they are adept climbers they spend most of their time waiting for prey on the ground, where they stalk it before pouncing. Though they live in pairs and hold joint territories, they hunt alone, only working together to kill large prey. Usually kills its own food but may take carrion. They have also been known to takes domestic stock, up to the size of a calf.
Grouping: Usually in pairs, may be solitary. Pairs live together on a well-defined territory.
Breeding:
Gestation: 70 days.
Litter Size: 2-4.
Young Description:
Nest:
Young Care:
Sexual Maturity:
Longevity:

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