Know Before You Go

Puma

Other cats found in the Pantanal are the puma, the ocelot, the jaguarundi and the margay. The largest of these, the puma, is more than 6 feet long and weighs up to 220 pounds. Also known as mountain lions or cougars, these large cats are active both day and night, preying upon deer, coati, porcupine, rabbit and other small mammals.

Ocelot

Ocelots have beautiful striped and spotted coats. The average weight ocelot weighs around 35 pounds. A skilled climber, this small cat stealthily stalks its prey in the trees and on the forest floor, hunting for monkeys, rabbits, rodents, birds, fawns, fish, iguanas, insects and snakes. Ocelots typically produce two kittens in a litter, but many have up to four young at one time.

Margay

The smallest wild cat in the Pantanal is the margay, usually weighing in at around 11 pounds. They are marked by a velvety coat with exotic designs, beautifully patterned eyes and bushy tails. A reclusive, nocturnal creature, the margay prefers to stay hidden in the dense rain forest, rarely venturing into the open countryside. It stalks prey in the trees, including birds, lizards, tree frogs, monkeys and eggs. It also feeds on grasses and fruit such as figs, which likely aids their digestion.

Jaguarundi 

With a weasel-like appearance, the jaguarundi has short legs, rounded ears and a small, flattened face. The body is lithe and slender, and the tail is long and bushy. This feline has a sleek coat that is typically black or brownish-gray. Cats with darker coats are usually found in the rain forest, and lighter, red-coated jaguarundis inhabit drier regions. Between one and four spotted kittens are born to a litter, and their spots quickly fade to one color. The jaguarundi is diurnal, preying upon small rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, and frogs.

 Photo Credits: Puma & Ocelot—Alex Arias; Jaguarundi—Alena Houšková [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons, Margay—Malene Thyssen [CC BY-SA 2.5] via Wikimedia Commons