# Jaguarundi (*Herpailurus yagouaroundi*) The Jaguarundi is a sleek, small wild cat that loves to explore! With its long body and short legs, it can run fast and climb trees easily. These cats are often found in warm areas and are very playful. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Otter Cat, Pampas Cat ![Jaguarundi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Herpailurus_yagouaroundi_26409745.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Diego Carús, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herpailurus_yagouaroundi_26409745.jpeg) ## Appearance The Jaguarundi is a sleek, medium-sized wild cat with a long, slender body, short legs, and a small, flattened head. Its coat is uniformly colored, ranging from reddish-brown to dark grey, without any spots or stripes, making it visually distinct from most other small cats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Felidae - **Genus:** Puma ## Interesting facts - Jaguarundis are diurnal, meaning they hunt mostly during the day! - Their sleek body and flattened head help them squeeze through dense bushes! - These cats can make more than 13 different sounds, including whistles and chirps! - They use their incredibly long tail like a balancing pole for agility! ## Special abilities - **Agile Swimmer:** Jaguarundi can swim well because of their strong, slender bodies and love for water, which helps them hunt prey near rivers and streams. - **Master Climber:** Jaguarundi can climb trees skillfully using their sharp claws and muscular legs, which helps them escape predators and find arboreal prey. - **Vocal Communicator:** Jaguarundi has a wide range of vocalizations, including whistles and chirps, that help them communicate with other jaguarundis. - **Stealthy Hunter:** Jaguarundi can stalk prey silently because of their keen senses and flexible body, which helps them ambush unsuspecting small animals. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-83 cm - **Weight:** 3.5-9.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-15 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-4 - **Gestation:** 70-75 days ## Diet & Feeding These small but mighty hunters feast on rodents, birds, reptiles, and sometimes even fruit! - **Primary Foods:** rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, fruit - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Cotton Rat (*Sigmodon hispidus*) — A main food source in many habitats. - **Hunts:** [Inca Dove](https://www.snappit.app/explore/inca-dove) (*Columbina inca*) — Often preys on ground-dwelling birds. - **Hunts:** Green Anole (*Anolis carolinensis*) — Lizards are a frequent part of its diet. - **Eaten by:** [Cougar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cougar) (*Puma concolor*) — Larger felids prey on smaller cats. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Jaguarundis are wild animals, so it's best to watch them from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Jaguarundi? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Jaguarundi? 50-83 cm ### How much does Jaguarundi weigh? 3.5-9.1 kg ### How long does Jaguarundi live? 8-15 years ### How fast can Jaguarundi move? 45 km/h ### What does Jaguarundi eat? These small but mighty hunters feast on rodents, birds, reptiles, and sometimes even fruit! ### Where is Jaguarundi usually found? Forests ### How does Jaguarundi hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Sete Cidades National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sete-cidades-national-park) — BR · Park ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Jaguarundi: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguarundi)