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Overview
Brief Summary
Description
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Mammal Species of the World
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- Original description: Schinz, H.R., 1821. Das Thierreich eingetheilt nach dem Bau der Thiere als Grundlage ihrer Naturgeschichte und der vergleichenden Anatomie von dem Herrn Ritter von Cuvier, p. 235. Erster Band, Saugethiere und Vogel. Stuttgart, Germany, 894 + 38.
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Distribution
Range Description
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Geographic Range
Leopardus wiedii is neotropical and sub-tropical. Margays may be found in forested regions from Northern Mexico to Uruguay and northern Argentina.
Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )
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National Distribution
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Absent
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Global Range: (20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)) Extreme southern tip of Texas (formerly) south through Mexico and Central America to South America (south to Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina). Very rare in Central America (Kitchener 1991). Texas population may have disappeared over a century ago.
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U.S.A. (TX), Central and South America
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Physical Description
Morphology
Physical Description
Margays are petite, spotted cats, resembling small, slender ocelots (Leopardus pardalis). Head and body length range from 463 to 790 mm, with tail length 331 to 510 mm. Weight 2.6 to 3.9 kg. Dark brown spots form longitudinal rows; fur otherwise tan (range: grayish to cinnamon) above, white ventrally. The pelage of these cats is soft and thick.
Range mass: 2.6 to 3.9 kg.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Average basal metabolic rate: 5.227 W.
- Eisenberg, J., K. Redford. 1999. Mammals of the Neotropics. Volume 3: the central Neotropics. Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
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Size
Size in North America
Average: 931 mm males; 907 mm females
Range: 862-1,300 mm males; 805-1,029 mm females
Weight:
Range: 3-7 kg males; 3-5 kg females
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
The margay is a small-sized (3.3 kg) solitary felid, with an average litter size of 1.09 (1–2) (Oliveira and Cassaro 2005). Activity pattern is predominately nocturno-crepuscular, with few records of daytime activity. Prey base consists mostly of small mammals, birds and reptiles, with average prey size at <200 g, but does include larger sized prey (>1 kg). Although margays are highly arboreal, most prey recorded are terrestrial (Oliveira 1998). The limited information on home range size varies from 1 to 20 km². The margay occurs at low population densities throughout most of its range, and its numbers/densities are negatively impacted by the larger ocelot, its potential intra-guild predator/competitor (Oliveira et al. in press, in submission).
Systems
- Terrestrial
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Habitat
Margays inhabit tropical and subtropical forests. The majority of published observations were made in forested environments, although L. wiedii occasionally occupies more disturbed areas.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest
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Comments: Prefers heavily forested areas (evergreen and deciduous). Arboreal and terrestrial. Probably dens in thickets or other protected areas.
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Migration
Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
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Trophic Strategy
Food Habits
Margays eat a wide range of prey, including terrestrial and arboreal mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, reptiles, arthropods, and fruit.
Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; eggs; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: fruit
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates)
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Comments: Probably depends on various mammalian, avian, and reptilian prey.
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Population Biology
Number of Occurrences
Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.
Estimated Number of Occurrences: 6 - 20
Comments: Nowhere common.
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General Ecology
Life History and Behavior
Cyclicity
Life Expectancy
Lifespan/Longevity
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 20.0 years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 13.0 years.
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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
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Reproduction
Reproduction
Most reproductive statistics come from captive animals; all aspects of behavior and physiology are virtually unstudied in the field (Azevedo, 1996; Mansard, 1997; Nowak, 1999). Females may breed in their first year. Estrous cycles are approximately 33 days, but may be shorter if mating does not occur. Gestation may last from 76 to 84 days, with a litter size of one, sometimes two. Young begin eating solid food after 8 weeks.
Breeding season: Margays may breed throughout the year.
Average number of offspring: 2.
Average gestation period: 81 days.
Range weaning age: 52 (low) days.
Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 (low) years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous
Average birth mass: 166.5 g.
Average gestation period: 81 days.
Average number of offspring: 1.5.
Parental Investment: altricial
- Azevedo, F. 1996. Notes on the behavior of the margay Felis wiedii (Schinz, 1821), (Carnivora, Felidae), in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Mammalia, 60: 325-328.
- Mansard, P. 1997. Breeding and husbandry of the Margay Leopardus wiedii yucatanica at the Ridgeway Trust for Endangered Cats, Hastings. International Zoo Yearbook, 35: 94-100.
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Probably breeds year-round. Probably rears one or two young per year.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Leopardus wiedii
Public Records: 0
Species: 3
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
- 2002Least Concern
- 1996Lower Risk/least concern
- 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
This species is rare and endangered throughout its range. In the past, thousands of individuals per year were harvested for their fur. Hunting pressure has decreased considerably following international protection, although some illegal harvesting still occurs locally. The virtually exclusive use of forested habitat may make L. wiedii more vulnerable than ocelots to the negative effects of habitat destruction and fragmentation.
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: appendix i
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: near threatened
- Nowell, K., P. Jackson. 1996. Wild Cats: status survey and conservation action plan. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: NX - Presumed Extirpated
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure
Reasons: Rare in large range, extending from Mexico to South America; population trend is poorly known; habitat loss (e.g., deforestation in Central America) and overexploitation for the fur trade have contributed to the scarcity of this cat; sensitive to human disturbance of habitat.
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Status: Endangered
Date Listed: 03/28/1972
Lead Region: Foreign (Region 10)
Where Listed: Mexico southward
Population detail:
Population location: Mexico southward
Listing status: E
For most current information and documents related to the conservation status and management of Leopardus wiedii, see its USFWS Species Profile
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Trends
Population
Population Trend
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Threats
Threats
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Degree of Threat: A : Very threatened throughout its range communities directly exploited or their composition and structure irreversibly threatened by man-made forces, including exotic species
Comments: Threatened by fur hunters and illegal trade (caught in traps set for ocelot) and habitat destruction, such as deforestation in Central America (Kitchener 1991). Requires large, undisturbed home range, making it sensitive to human disturbances.
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Management
Conservation Actions
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Biological Research Needs: Obtain better information on breeding habits, food, and home range.
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Global Protection: Unknown whether any occurrences are appropriately protected and managed
Comments: There may be some protection in Costa Rica.
Needs: Become involved with the monitoring of the illegal fur trade.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Margays offer no adverse effects to humans, except perhaps for the occasional livestock deprivation, such as chickens.
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Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Margays were used commercially for their skins in the past.
Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material; ecotourism
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Wikipedia
Margay
The Margay (Leopardus wiedii) is a spotted cat native to Middle and South America. Named for Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied,[3] it is a solitary and nocturnal animal that prefers remote sections of the rainforest. Although it was once believed to be vulnerable to extinction, the IUCN now lists it as "Near Threatened".[2] It roams the rainforests from Mexico to Argentina.
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Physical characteristics
The margay is very similar to the larger ocelot in appearance, although the head is a little shorter, the eyes larger, and the tail and legs longer. It weighs from 2.6 to 4 kilograms (5.7 to 8.8 lb), with a body length of 48 to 79 centimetres (19 to 31 in), and a tail length of 33 to 51 centimetres (13 to 20 in). Unlike most other cats, the female possesses only two teats.[4]
The fur is brown in color, and marked with numerous rows of dark brown or black rosettes and longitudinal streaks. The undersides are paler, ranging from buff to white, and the tail has numerous dark bands and a black tip. The backs of the ears are black with circular white markings in the centre.[4]
Most notably the margay is a much more skillful climber than its relative, and it is sometimes called the tree ocelot because of this ability. Whereas the ocelot mostly pursues prey on the ground, the margay may spend its entire life in the trees, leaping after and chasing birds and monkeys through the treetops. Indeed, it is one of only two cat species[4] with the ankle flexibility necessary to climb head-first down trees (the other being the clouded leopard). It is remarkably agile; its ankles can turn up to 180 degrees,[5] it can grasp branches equally well with its fore and hind paws, and it is able to jump up to 12 feet (3.7 m) horizontally.[4] The margay has been observed to hang from branches with only one foot.
Distribution and habitat
The margay is found from southern Mexico, through Central America and in northern South America east of the Andes. The southern edge of its range reaches Uruguay and northern Argentina. They are found almost exclusively in areas of dense forest, ranging from tropical evergreen forest to tropical dry forest and high cloud forest. Margays have sometimes also been observed in coffee and cocoa plantations.[4]
Diet
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Because the margay is mostly nocturnal and is naturally rare in its environment, most dietary studies have been based on stomach contents and fecal analysis. This cat eats small mammals (sometimes including monkeys), birds, eggs, lizards and tree frogs.[6] It may also eat grass and other vegetation, most likely to help digestion. A 2006 report about a margay chasing squirrels in its natural environment confirmed the margay is able to hunt its prey entirely in trees.[7] However, margays do sometimes hunt on the ground, and have been reported to eat terrestrial prey, such as cane rats and guinea pigs.[4]
There has been one report of a margay using auditory mimicry to try to lure one of its prey. A margay was observed to imitate the call of a pied tamarin infant while in the presence of a group of adult tamarins, leading the adults to investigate. While the margay was not successful in catching one of the monkeys, this represents the first observation of a Neotropical predator employing this type of mimicry.[8][9]
Behavior
Margays are primarily nocturnal, although in some areas, they have also been observed to hunt during the day. They prefer to spend most of their life in the trees, but also travel across the ground, especially when moving between hunting areas. During the day, they rest in relatively inaccessible branches or clumps of lianas.
Like most cats, they are solitary, with the adults only commonly meeting to mate. They are sparsely distributed even within their natural environment, occupying relatively large home ranges of 11 to 16 square kilometres (4.2 to 6.2 sq mi). They use scent marking to indicate their territory, including urine spraying and leaving scratch marks on the ground or on branches. Their vocalisations all appear to be short range; they do not call to each other over long distances.[4]
Margays have recently been discovered to hunt by mimicking the vocalisation of a prey species, Wild Pied Tamarin (Saguinus bicolor),[10] which has been compared by scientists to tool-use by monkeys.[11]
Reproduction and life cycle
Female margays are in estrus for four to ten days over a cycle of 32 to 36 days, during which they attract males with a long, moaning call. The male responds by yelping or making trilling sounds, and also by rapidly shaking his head from side to side, a behavior not seen in any other cat species. Copulation lasts up to sixty seconds, and is similar to that in domestic cats; it takes place primarily in the trees, and occurs several times while the female is in heat.[4]
Gestation lasts about 80 days, and results in the birth of only a single kitten (or, very rarely, two), usually between March and June. The kittens weigh 85 to 170 grams (3.0 to 6.0 oz) at birth. This is relatively large for a small cat, and is probably related to the long gestation period. The kittens open their eyes at around two weeks of age, and begin to take solid food at seven to eight weeks.[4]
Margays reach sexual maturity at twelve to eighteen months of age, and have been reported to live up to twenty-four years in captivity.[4]
Subspecies
These are the currently recognized subspecies:[1]
- Leopardus wiedii wiedii, eastern and central Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, northern Argentina
- Leopardus wiedii amazonicus, western Brazil, inner parts of Peru, Colombia and Venezuela
- Leopardus wiedii boliviae, Bolivia - also known as the "ocelittle"
- Leopardus wiedii cooperi, northern Mexico
- Leopardus wiedii glauculus, central Mexico
- Leopardus wiedii nicaraguae, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
- Leopardus wiedii oaxacensis, southern Mexico
- Leopardus wiedii pirrensis, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
- Leopardus wiedii salvinius, Chiapas, Guatemala, El Salvador
- Leopardus wiedii yucatanicus, Yucatán
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. 539–540. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
- ^ a b Payan, E., Eizirik, E., de Oliveira, T., Leite-Pitman, R., Kelly, M. & Valderrama, C. (2008). Leopardus wiedii. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 06 March 2009. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
- ^ "Leopardus wiedii, common name: margay". http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/bstud/margay.html. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Sunquist, Mel; Sunquist, Fiona (2002). Wild cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 135–141. ISBN 0-226-77999-8.
- ^ Margay
- ^ 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. doi:10.1076/snfe.37.3.207.8564. http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/index/FN1FYN6WTTEKT95X.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
- ^ Solórzano-filho, J.A. (2006). "Mobbing of Leopardus wiedii while hunting by a group of Sciurus ingrami in an Araucaria forest of Southeast Brazil". Mammalia 70 (1/2): 156–157. doi:10.1515/MAMM.2006.031.
- ^ Calleia, F. O.; Rohe, F.; Gordo, M. (June 2009). "Hunting Strategy of the Margay (Leopardus wiedii) to Attract the Wild Pied Tamarin (Saguinus bicolor)". Neotropical Primates (Conservation International) 16 (1): 32–34. doi:10.1896/044.016.0107. http://www.primate-sg.org/PDF/NP16.1.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
- ^ Dell'Amore, Christine (2010-07-13). "Jungle Cat Mimics Monkey to Lure Prey—A First". National Geographic Daily News. National Geographic Society. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/07/100712-cats-mimics-monkeys-prey-science/. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
- ^ Calleia, Fabiano de Oliveira; Rohe, Fabio; Gordo, Marcelo (2009). "Hunting strategy of the Leopardus wiedii)to attract the Wild Pied Saguinus Bicolor)". Neotropical Primates (Neotropical Section of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group) 16 (1): 32–34. doi:10.1896/044.016.0107. ISSN 1413-4703. http://www.primate-sg.org/PDF/NP16.1.pdf.
- ^ Angier, Natalie (September 6, 2010). "Surviving by Disguising: Nature’s Game of Charades". Basics. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/07/science/07angier.html?th&emc=th. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
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Unreviewed
Names and Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Comments: Formerly included in the genus FELIS. Placed in the genus Leopardus by Wozencraft (in Wilson and Reeder 1993) and Jones et al. (1997), and in the genus FELIS by Jones et al. (1992). Some have suggested that Leopardus wiedii and Leopardus tigrinus may be conspecific, whereas others have considered the differences between WIEDII and TIGRINUS to warrant generic distinction (see Wozencraft, in Wilson and Reeder 1993).
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