Jaguarundimomsteachthe
impressivehuntingskil
A
10-pound female jaguarundi pads across the rain forest floo
The babies romp and wrestle. They haven’t yet eaten today,
for food. Detecting a rustling from a hole in the ground, she sticks
her paw inside and pulls out a tasty rat. Her babies scamper
to her side. It’s time for a family dinner.
The jaguarundi is a small species of wild cat,
whose range includes the Amazon rain forest.
“It isn’t a top predator,” biologist Anthony
Giordano says. “In fact it’s pretty low on
the predator totem pole.” Because of
competition from stronger preda-
tors such as cougars, jaguarundis
must learn as youngsters to be
crafty hunters. Luckily their
moms act as cat coaches,
teaching the babies key
hunting skills.
A YOUNG
JAGUARUNDI
PROWLS
THROUGH
A JUNGLE.
30
ns
ls.
or with her two kittens inntow.
so as theyplay the momlooks
oleinthegroundshestiicks
BY ALICIA KLEPEIS
J
e
Special
Issue
Central and South
America
PACIFIC
OCEAN
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
SOUTH
AMERICA
NORTH
AMERICA
Where
jaguarundis
live