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Margay

Margay

Margay in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Leopardus
Species: wiedii
Binomial name
Leopardus wiedii

The Margay (Leopardus wiedii, or Felis wiedii) is a spotted cat native to Central and South America. It is a solitary nocturnal animal that prefers remote sections of the rainforest. Because of its seclusive nature the Margay population is undetermined; however it is thought to be an endangered cat. It roams the rainforests from Mexico to Argentina.

The margay is very similar to the ocelot. The head is a bit shorter, the tail is longer, and the spotted pattern on the tail is different. Most notably the margay is a much more skilful climber than its relative. It is the only cat with the ankle flexibility necessary to climb head first down trees.

Subspecies