Leopardus+Pardarlis

// Leopardus pardalis



// What kind of feline can swim, kills its prey with sharp deadly knife-like teeth, and can camouflage with their environment? An Ocelot! An Ocelot is a unique kind of animal. Its scientific name is //Leopardus pardalis.// Ocelots live in many different areas, but with the same overall climate. Their homes lie anywhere from Southwestern Texas all the way to Ecuador, in South America! Ocelots have short little ears and their tails range from yellow to grey, with black rings on them. Ocelots have an amazing diet as well. They are carnivorous predators who stalk their prey. They hunt rabbits, rodents, iguanas, fish, frogs, birds, and monkeys! Ocelots primarily reside in trees. They only have a litter every two years and their litter usually hunts on its own by the time they are about several months old. The Ocelot or //Leopardus pardalis// belongs to the Animalia kingdom. In the Animalia kingdom all organisms are multicellular meaning that they have more than one cell in their body. Unlike plants, fungi, most protists, eubacteria, and archaebacteria, the organisms do not have a cell wall. They have cell membranes to protect their cells. The organisms in the Animalia kingdom are eukaryotic meaning that the organisms consist of a nucleus. Animals depend on plants for food and on bacteria and fungi to recycle nutrients found in dead organisms to provide nutrients. Ocelots do not have teeth appropriate for chewing, but they are one of the biggest predators in the jungles of South and Central America. You might be wondering how the Ocelots are known for being one of the most deadly predators in that area. Ocelots tear their food to pieces and swallow the animal whole. Their tongues can clean a bone of every last morsel. Ocelot’s average size is between 28 to 35 in and can weigh up to 35 pounds or 16kilograms. Their size is relative to a six foot man. Many Ocelots live under leafy canopies of South American rain forests, but can also live in brush lands and can be found as far north as Texas. Female Ocelots have liters of two or three kittens at a time. Their birthing months are September, October, and November. The gestation period ranges from 70-90 days. A liter is born once every two years. Ocelots’ fine fur has made them the target for many hunters. Even though Ocelots are one of the most dangerous animals in South and Central America, they are still endangered. There are less than 120 of them in Texas.

By: Hannah and Meher Pd: 4