| Scientific
Name: Oncefelis geoffroyi
Size: 90 cms including tail
Weight: 5 kgs
IUCN Endangered Species?: Near Threatened
Estimated Wild Population: 50000
Distribution: Central &
southern South America
Description: The small, spotted
Geoffroy’s cat is probably the most numerous cat in South America.
Despite being relatively numerous, it is secretive in the wild
and not much of its behaviour is known.
It can be found in a variety of habitats throughout the central
and more southerly regions of South America.
At a weight of around 5 kgs and 25cms at the shoulder, it is the
same size as a domestic cat and has been domesticated and kept as pets
by local people to help reduce numbers of rats, just as the domestic cat
was in other areas of the world. It
has a varied diet which often includes fish, and the Geoffroy’s cat is
believed to be a good swimmer and, unlike many other cats, it readily
enters water in pursuit of fish. Trade
in its spotted fur (one of the major reasons for the decline of most
cats from around the world) has been the main reason for concern over
the future of this species.
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