Ocelot illustration © Bruce Pearson from the Collins Guide to Rare Mammals of the World.

Ocelot Leopardus pardalis

Ocelots are the size of a medium sized dog and can grow to nearly a meter long. They are greyish to cinnamon coloured with black elongated markings. Ocelots are solitary cats living within forests where they hunt, usually at night, eating animals such as birds, snakes, mice and anteaters.

Ocelots occur from the southern United States to northern Argentina. In the past they were hunted for their skins and have since disappeared from many areas. Much of their habitat has been destroyed, and ocelots are often killed in car accidents.

Ocelot. See a larger image (use your back button to return here).

The Ocelot is classified as Least Concern by IUCN. (See IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for more information on the classification of the Ocelot.) It is now illegal to trade in dead or alive ocelots, or ocelot parts. However, enforcement of this protected status is often inadequate.

Help Protect the Ocelot and Other South American Wildlife

Ocelots are found in the following World Land Trust project areas:

• Topical Forests of Costa Rica;
• Tropical Forrests of Belize;
• Tropical Forests of Ecuador;
• Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil;
• Atlantic Rainforest of Argentina;
• Cloud/decidous and evergreen forests of Mexico;
• Dry forests on Margarita Island, Venezuela.

Help protect their habitat by supporting WLT projects

For more information on Ocelots and their habitat

• Visit the WLT project pages
• Learn more about the Ocelot on ARKive