CLOUDED TIGER CAT -
ENVIRONMENT
News: Explained: Why this new tiger
cat species has the risk of an uncertain future
What's in the news?
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The newly identified species of tiger cat, the
clouded tiger cat, found in Brazil, is under threat due to deforestation and
illegal hunting.
Clouded Tiger Cat:
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The clouded tiger cat (Leopardus pardinoides) is a newly identified species of forest-dwelling
tiger cat.
Characteristics:
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It is characterized by its long tail and short, rounded ears, with an average weight of 2.27
kg.
Geographic Distribution:
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This species is found in the cloud forests spanning
the southern Central American and Andean
Mountain chains, ranging from Costa Rica through Panama, Colombia, Peru,
Bolivia, to Argentina.
Physical Features:
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The clouded tiger cat exhibits a head resembling
that of a margay, adorned with dense soft fur of various reddish, orangish, and
grayish-yellow hues, embellished with irregularly shaped medium-large 'cloudy'
rosettes that are prominently marked and often merge together.
Unique Trait:
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Remarkably, this species possesses only one pair of mammae or teats, distinguishing
it from other tiger cat species.
Go back to basics:
Tiger Cats:
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Tiger cats, also known as oncillas, are small spotted cats native to Central and South America, known for their adeptness in
tree-climbing and hunting small prey.
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They rank among the smallest and most reserved wild
cats in the Americas, typically weighing between 1.5 to 3 kilograms (3.3 to 6.6
pounds), considerably smaller than the average domestic house cat.
Previous Taxonomy:
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Until recently, tiger cats were classified into two species - the Northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) and the Atlantic Forest tiger cat (Leopardus
guttulus), with a few subspecies recognized within these categories.
Distribution:
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The northern tiger cat inhabits the savannas and
shrublands of the Guiana Shield and central Brazil, whereas the Atlantic Forest
tiger cat resides in forested regions stretching from central to southern
Brazil, extending through Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.