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Overview
Distribution
Range Description
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Geographic Range
Leopardus tigrinus is found primarily in South America with a small populations also occurring intermittently in Central America. It can be found as far north as Costa Rica and as far south as the northern tip of Argentina. Its geographic range extends throughout Brazil and the Guianas (i.e., Guyana, Guyane, Suriname) and in parts of Venezuela, Colombia, Equador, Bolivia and Paraguay. There is also speculation that it may be found in some parts of Nicaragua, and Panama.
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
- Feline Conservation Federation. 2010. "Oncilla" (On-line). Feline Conservation Federation. Accessed September 20, 2010 at http://www.felineconservation.org/feline_species/oncilla.htm.
- Sunquist, M., F. Sunquist. 2002. Wild Cats of the World. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
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Costa Rica to northern Argentina
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Oncillas are one of the smallest wild cats in South America. They range in mass from 1.5 kg to 3 kg. Males are slightly larger than females and can weigh up to 3 kg, whereas females generally weigh between 1.5 and 2.0 kg. Male head and body length ranges from 805 to 830 mm, with tail length ranging from 317 to 360 mm. Females range in length from 763 to 780 mm, with tail length ranging from 270 to 305 mm.
Oncillas have short, thick fur that is light brown to grey and is spotted with rosettes that are dark brown with a black outline. The venter is typically paler than the rest of the body, but is still marked with rosettes. The tail is lined with 7 to 13 dark rings and ends with a dark tip. The limbs are covered in randomly placed black spots, and the back of the ears are black with a white spot near the centre of the pinna. The eyes range from light to dark brown. Although melanism has been documented in this species, albinism has not.
Oncillas are often mistaken for ocelots and margays. Although oncillas are smaller than both of these species, they are otherwise very similar in appearance. Oncillas are more slender with larger ears and have a more narrow muzzle then ocelots or margays. The eyes are located more laterally than those of margays', and oncillas have longer tails than do ocelots. In addition, the skulls of oncillas are less robust than those of margays'. The brain case is more narrow, the zygomatic arches are less robust, and the auditory bullae are less inflated. The dorsal profile of the average oncilla skull is also less convex than that of a margay skull. The dental formula for an adult oncilla is 3/3, 1/1, 3/2, 1/1.
Range mass: 1.5 to 3 kg.
Average mass: 2 kg.
Range length: 763 to 830 mm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
- Husson, A. 1978. The mammals of Suriname. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill. Accessed November 11, 2010 at http://books.google.ca/books?id=1s8UAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+mammals+of+suriname&source=bl&ots=izmM1f7-HZ&sig=MlfYbe-LldRbtopwWi1wGq-NYT4&hl=en&ei=eTLcTJKcBc2YnAeA_K0X&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=true.
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
The little spotted cat is a small-sized (2.4 kg) solitary felid, with an average litter size of 1.12 kittens (1–4) (Oliveira and Cassaro 2005). Diel activity pattern is mostly nocturno-crepuscular, but with considerable amount of daytime activity. However, it could also be highly diurnal in some areas of Brazil. Prey base consists mostly of small mammals, birds and lizards, with average prey size at <100 g, but does include larger sized prey (>1 kg). Home range data from the few studies that have been carried out suggests that they are small - 0.9-2.8 km² for females and 4.8-17 km² for males (although studies from Brazil’s Emas National Park suggests ranges can be larger). However, these ranges are larger than would be expected from body size (Oliveira et al. in press). Densities vary 1-5/100 km², and in the Amazon may be as low as 0.01/100 km² (Oliveira et al. in submission). Little spotted cat occurs at low population densities throughout most of its range, especially on what would be expected by a felid of its size. Its numbers/densities are negatively impacted by the larger ocelot, its potential intra-guild predator/competitor (Oliveira et al. 2008, in press, in submission).
Systems
- Terrestrial
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Habitat
Oncillas, also known as little spotted cats and little tiger cats, have been recorded in elevations ranging from sea level to 3200 m. They prefer forested habitats and are found in a wide variety of forests ecosystems, including dense tropical forests at elevations ranging from sea level to 1500 m. From 350 to 1500 m, oncillas can be found in rainforests or humid premontane forests. At 1500 m and above, oncillas can be found in humid montane forests that or cloud forests. Evidence suggests that they are expanding into deciduous forests and subtropical forests, and in Brazil,they have successfully populated savannas and semiarid thorny scrub as well. Oncillas can also be found in plantations and eucalyptus monocultures. Although they are agile tree climbers, they are primarily terriculous.
Range elevation: 0 to 3200 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
- 1986. Notes on the Biology and Status of the Small Wild Cats in Venezuela. Pp. 138-139 in Cats of the World: Biology, Conservation, and Management. United States: National Wildlife Federation.
- Schipper, J., R. Leite-Pitman, E. Payan. 2010. "Leopardus tigrinus" (On-line). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed October 09, 2010 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/11510/0.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Little information exists on the feeding habits of wild oncillas; however, their primary prey likely includes birds and small mammals such as rodents. When preying upon birds, oncillas are capable of cleaning their prey free of feathers prior to ingestion. In some regions of their geographic range, they are known to prey upon lizards. Oncillas instantly kill their prey by piercing the back of the skull and severing the the brain stem from the spinal chord.
Animal Foods: birds; mammals; reptiles
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates)
- Kiltie, R. 1984. Size ratios among sympatric neotropical cats. Oecologia, 61: 411-416. Accessed November 11, 2010 at http://www.springerlink.com/content/w1n16217u1v15x26/fulltext.pdf.
- Wang, E. 2002. Diets of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), margays (L. wiedii), and oncillas (L. tigrinus) in the Atlantic Rainforest in southeast Brazil.. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, 37/3: 207-212.
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Associations
Ecosystem Roles
Although there is no information on the potential ecosystem roles filled by oncillas, as small terrestrial predators, they may help control rodent pest species. There is no information available regarding parasites of this species.
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Predation
There is no information available regarding potential predators of oncillas. Oncillas are well adapted climbers and likely evade terriculous predators by hiding in the canopy. In addition, their nocturnal nature and cryptic coloration likely reduces risk of predation as well.
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Known prey organisms
Aves
Mammalia
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
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Life History and Behavior
Behavior
Communication and Perception
Little is known about how oncillas communicate. Young oncilla kittens tend to purr, while grown oncillas have a vocalization described as a "gurgle" which is short and rhythmic.
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Life Expectancy
Lifespan/Longevity
Oncillas generally live for 10 to 14 years in the wild, and although they have been known to live for up to 23 years in captivity, most captive individuals live for 16 to 20 years.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 23 (high) years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 10 to 14 years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 11 years.
Typical lifespan
Status: captivity: 16 to 20 years.
- Tigerhomes.org. 2006. "Oncilla - Leopardus tigrinus" (On-line). Tigerhomes.org. Accessed September 20, 2010 at http://www.tigerhomes.org/wild-cats/wc-oncilla.cfm.
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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
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Reproduction
Reproduction
There is no information available regarding the mating system of Leopardus tigrinus in the wild; however, captive individuals appear to mate with the same partner for life.
Little information exists regarding the mating behavior of oncillas, and that which does exist, was recorded from observations of captive breeding pairs. Although oncillas are primarily solitary, occasionally a breeding pair may be documented. In captivity, oncillas appear to mate for life, however, this has not been confirmed for wild populations. In the wild, males are known to be very aggressive towards females, which may suggest that oncillas are highly solitary.
Female oncillas reach sexual maturity after 2 years of age, whereas males reach sexual maturity after 18 months. Estrous lasts from 3 to 9 days and decreases in duration with age. Mating occurs during early spring and gestation lasts for approximately 75 days. Males have no further involvement after mating. Oncillas typically give birth to 1 kitten per breeding cycle, but can have up to 3 kittens. Neonates range in mass from 92 to 134 g and can open their eyes between 7 and 18 days after birth. Kittens begin eating solid food 5 to 7 weeks after birth, and weaning is usually complete by 3 months of age. Teeth begin to emerge after 21 days which is later than most felines; however, teeth typically emerge all together, within a matter of hours. Most oncillas are full grown by 11 months of age and are completely independent by 4 months of age.
Breeding season: Captive bred oncillas breed from early to late spring.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 3.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Range gestation period: 74 to 76 days.
Range birth mass: 92 to 134 g.
Average weaning age: 3 months.
Average time to independence: 4 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 18 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous
Average number of offspring: 1.5.
Most oncillas are completely weaned by 3 months of age, and young are completely independent 4 months of age. Paternal care is non-existent in this species. No further information exists regarding parental care in oncillas.
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care ; pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
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Sarah Hartwell. 2008. "DOMESTIC X ONCILLA AND BLACK FOOTED CAT HYBRIDS" (On-line).
http://www.messybeast.com. Accessed October 11, 2010 at http://www.messybeast.com/small-hybrids/nigripes-oncilla-hybrids.htm.
- 1986. Notes on the Biology and Status of the Small Wild Cats in Venezuela. Pp. 138-139 in Cats of the World: Biology, Conservation, and Management. United States: National Wildlife Federation.
- Feline Conservation Federation. 2010. "Oncilla" (On-line). Feline Conservation Federation. Accessed September 20, 2010 at http://www.felineconservation.org/feline_species/oncilla.htm.
- Walton Beacham. 1998. Tiger Cat. Pp. 694-695 in Beacham's Guide to International Endangered Species, Vol. 2, 1 Edition. Osprey, Florida: Beacham Publishing Corporation.
- Quillen, P. 1981. Hand-rearing the little spotted cat or oncilla Felis tigrinus. International Zoo Yearbook, 21: 240-242.
- Sunquist, M., F. Sunquist. 2002. Wild Cats of the World. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Leopardus tigrinus
Public Records: 0
Species: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Contributor/s
Justification
History
- 2002Near Threatened
- 1996Lower Risk/near threatened
- 1994Insufficiently Known(Groombridge 1994)
- 1990Vulnerable(IUCN 1990)
- 1988Vulnerable(IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
- 1986Vulnerable(IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
- 1982Vulnerable(Thornback and Jenkins 1982)
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Conservation Status
Oncillas are classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. Their population was significantly decreased during the 1970's and 80's due to overhunting, and current threats include habitat loss, fragmentation, roads, illegal trade (pets and pelts), and retaliatory killing by poultry farmers. From 1982 to 1990, oncillas were classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. After an 11 year period as a "near threatened" species from 1996 to 2007, oncillas began declining once again in 2008 and were subsequently reclassified as "vulnerable". Although oncillas are protected under Appendix I by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), they rarely occur in protected habitat. The phylogenetics of this species are not well established, and it has been suggested that populations occurring in the northern-most part of their geographic range could be a distinct species.
CITES: appendix i
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable
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Status: Endangered
Date Listed: 03/28/1972
Lead Region: Foreign (Region 10)
Where Listed:
Population detail:
Population location: entire
Listing status: E
For most current information and documents related to the conservation status and management of Leopardus tigrinus, see its USFWS Species Profile
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Trends
Population
Population Trend
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Threats
Threats
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Management
Conservation Actions
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Oncillas are known to occasionally attack and kill poultry throughout its geographic range.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Oncillas are illegally hunted at localized points throughout their geographic range for their pelt, which is similar to that of ocelots and margays. Oncilla pelts were one of the most heavily traded cat furs between 1976 and 1982 and is occasionally traded in various domestic markets. They are also sought for illegal trade on the exotic pet market.
Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material
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Wikipedia
Oncilla
- Tiger Cat redirects here. For the Tom and Jerry Tales episode, see Tiger Cat (Tom and Jerry Tales).
The Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus), also known as the Little Spotted Cat, Tigrillo, Cunaguaro or Tiger Cat, is a small spotted felid found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. It is a close relative of the Ocelot and the Margay, and has a rich ochre coat, spotted with black rosettes. The Oncilla is a nocturnal animal that hunts rodents and birds.[3]
Contents |
Appearance
The Oncilla resembles the Margay and the Ocelot,[4] but is smaller, with a slender build and narrower muzzle. It grows to 38 to 59 centimetres (15 to 23 in) long, plus a 20 to 42 centimetres (7.9 to 17 in) tail.[5] While this is somewhat longer than the average domestic cat, Leopardus tigrinus is generally lighter, weighing 1.5 to 3 kilograms (3.3 to 6.6 lb).[6]
The fur is thick and soft, ranging from light brown to dark ochre, with numerous dark rosettes across the back and flanks. The underside is pale with dark spots and the tail is ringed. The backs of the ears are black with bold ocelli.[4] The rosettes are black or brown, open in the center, and irregularly shaped.[7] The legs have medium-sized spots tapering to smaller spots near the paws.[7] This coloration helps the oncilla blend in with the mottled sunlight of the tropical forest understory. The Oncilla's jaw is shortened, with fewer teeth, but with well-developed carnassials and canines.[4]
Some melanistic oncillas have been reported from the more heavily forested parts of its range.[5]
Behavior
The Oncilla is a primarily terrestrial animal, but is also an adept climber.[7] Like all cats, the Oncilla is an obligate carnivore, requiring meat for survival. This cat eats small mammals, lizards, birds, eggs, invertebrates, and the occasional tree frog. Occasionally, the cat will eat grasses.[7] They are generally nocturnal, but in areas such as Caatinga, where their main food source consists of diurnal lizards, they are more likely to be active during the day.[5]
The Oncilla stalks its prey from a distance, and once in range, it pounces to catch and kill the prey.[7][8] Young oncillas have been observed to purr, while adults are known to make short, gurgling calls when close to one another.[5]
Distribution and habitat
This species shows a strong preference for montane forest, and are usually found in elevations higher than those of the margay or ocelot.[9] They have been found in habitats as high as 4500m in Colombia, in the Andean highlands in Ecuador, and in the subtropical forest highlands in Brazil.[9] They have also been identified in cerrado and scrubland environments.[5] They are typically distributed from Costa Rica through Northern Argentina.[9] They have been recorded in northern Panama, but the remainder of the country appears to be a gap in the species' range.[10]
Reproduction
Estrus lasts from 3 to 9 days, with older cats having shorter cycles.[10] Oncillas produce 1 to 3 kittens (usually only one), after a gestation of 74 to 76 days.[10] The kittens' eyes open after eight to seventeen days, an unusually long period for a cat of this size. Unlike other cats, in which the incisor teeth tend to appear first, the teeth of an oncilla kitten erupt more or less simultaneously, at around 21 days of age.[11] The kittens do not begin to take solid food until they are 38 to 56 days old (much older than in the domestic cat), but are fully weaned at three months.[5]
Oncillas reach sexual maturity at around two to two and a half years of age. They have a life span of about 11 years in the wild, but there are records of these cats reaching an age of 17 years.[10]
Subspecies
The following are the currently recognized subspecies:[1]
- Leopardus tigrinus tigrinus, eastern Venezuela, Guyana, northeastern Brazil
- Leopardus tigrinus guttulus, central and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, northern Argentina
- Leopardus tigrinus oncilla, Central America[12]
- Leopardus tigrinus pardinoides, western Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador
Although the Central American Oncilla is listed as a separate subspecies, based on analysis of mitochondrial DNA, Johnson et al. (1999) found strongly supported differences between L.t. oncilla in Costa Rica and L.t. guttulus in southern Brazil, comparable to differences between different neotropical species. Researchers have argued that there should be a splitting of the Oncilla into two species, as there is pronounced difference in appearance between the Oncillas in Costa Rica as compared to those in central and southern Brazil. The level of divergence between oncillas from Costa Rica and from central and southern Brazil suggest that the two populations have been isolated, perhaps by the Amazon River, for approximately 3.7 million years.[13] Further samples of L.t. oncilla are needed from northern South America to determine whether this taxon ranges outside Central America, and whether it should be considered a distinct species rather than a subspecies.[12]
A zone of hybridization between the oncilla and the colocolo has been found through genetic analyses of specimens from central Brazil.[14]
Conservation
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The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the oncilla as vulnerable.[15] The chief threats to these felines are deforestation and poaching. Oncillas are killed for their pelts, which are highly prized and often sold or made into clothing.[15] Reports in 1972 and 1982 in South America showed that the Oncilla is one of the four most heavily hunted of all the small cats.[15]
Another factor contributing to Oncilla mortality is human expansion, settling what was once open terrain for wild cats.[16] Coffee plantations are most often established in cloud forest habitats, causing the reduction of preferred habitats. There are a few oncillas in captivity in North America, and a few in zoos in Europe and South America. In captivity, the Oncilla tends to have high infant mortality rate.[16] CITES places the Oncilla on Appendix I, prohibiting all international commerce in Oncillas or products made from them.[16]
Hybridization of the Oncilla with the Geoffroy's Cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) has been found in the southernmost part of its range; hybridization with the Pampas Cat (Leopardus pajeros) has also been found in central Brazil. Such hybridization may be a natural process, and the extent of this as a threat to the Oncilla is unknown.[13]
Cat specialist groups are involved in studies and conservation of cats in all continents.[15] In situ management programs are increasingly being emphasized.[16] There is a breeding facility in Brazil for several small native felines, where their natural conditions and native food encourage reproduction similar to that in the wild.[15] Unfortunately, Oncilla habitats that still allow hunting are Ecuador, Guyana, Nicaragua, and Peru.[15]
References
- ^ a b Wozencraft, W. Christopher (16 November 2005). "Order Carnivora (pp. 532-628)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 539. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
- ^ de Oliveira, T., Eizirik, E., Schipper, J., Valderrama, C., Leite-Pitman, R. & Payan, E. (2008). Leopardus tigrinus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 22 March 2009. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable
- ^ http://www.nhm.org/cats/
- ^ a b c Leyhausen, P. (1963). The South American spotted Cats.
- ^ a b c d e f Sunquist, Mel; Sunquist, Fiona (2002). Wild cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 130–134. ISBN 0-226-77999-8.
- ^ University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
- ^ a b c d e Leyhausen, P. and Falken, M. (1979). Cat Behavior: The Predatory and social behavior of domestic and wild cats.
- ^ Prater, S.H. (1971). The book of Indian mammals 3D edn Bombay Natutal.
- ^ a b c Mondolfi, E. (1986). Notes on the biology and status of the small wild cats in Venezuela. pp. 125–146.
- ^ a b c d Nowell, Kristin. Status Survey and Conservation Plan.
- ^ Quillen, P. (1981). "Hand-rearing the little spotted cat or oncilla". International Zoo Yearbook 21: 240–242.
- ^ a b http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/136876/0/full
- ^ a b http://felids.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/featured-feline-oncilla/ International Society for Endangered Cats
- ^ http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/15309/0/full
- ^ a b c d e f Foreman, G.E. (1988). Felid bibliography. Felid Research and Conservation Interest Group and the International Society for Endangered Cats. pp. 34–72.
- ^ a b c d Fuller, K.S. Swift, B, Jorgensen, A. and A. Brautigam (1987). Latin American Wildlife Trade Laws.
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