fish, birds, reptiles, and caiman (plates 16- 53– 54). A
jaguar attacks its prey with a vigorous leap, quickly
attempting to sever the neck vertebrae. The name
jaguar derives from the South American Indian word
yaguar, meaning “he who kills with one leap.”
The Jaguar is largely solitary and basically nocturnal,
and its footprints are seen more often than the beast
itself. The best place to reliably see Jaguars is the
Brazilian Pantanal, where ecotourism has proliferated
in recent years. Ecotours to the Pantanal focus on
seeing these large wildcats, which are not molested by
humans here and are easily seen from a boat as they
bask along riverbanks.
Much smaller and considerably more common than
the Jaguar are the Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis; plate 16-
55) and its close relative the Margay (L. wiedii; plate 16-
56), both of which range throughout the Neotropics.
The big- eared, bright- eyed Ocelot is about 105 cm
(3.4 ft) in length, including the long, thick tail. A large
individual weighs about 11.3 kg (25 lb). The Margay is
similar in appearance but slightly smaller. It is difficult
to separate these species on the basis of a quick look,
because their spotting patterns are similar. However,
Ocelots tend to look more striped, with their spots run
together, whereas the Margay’s spots do not tend to
merge. Both small cats are essentially nocturnal, though
Ocelots can sometimes be seen during the day, usually in
dense cover. Margays are believed to be more nocturnal
than Ocelots. As mentioned in chapter 9, Ocelots are
terrestrial, but Margays are skilled tree climbers. Both
animals are carnivores, feeding on anything from
monkeys to insects. Like their domestic brethren, they
spray to mark their territories. Jaguars, Ocelots, and
Margays are the unfortunate victims of pelt seekers, who
make profits from killing these magnificent cats.
There is another Neotropical Leopardus, the Oncilla
(L. tigrina), a small cat only about half the size of a
Margay, which it otherwise resembles. Oncillas are
poorly studied, and much about their ecology and even
their range (from southern Central America through
Amazonia) is uncertain.
Of the various Neotropical cats, the Jaguarundi (Puma
yagouaroundi) is probably the most frequently seen. It is
common and diurnal, often found in savannas as well
as forest. The Jaguarundi is also the most frequently
misidentified cat; many who are unfamiliar with it
assume it to be a large weasel and not a cat at all. It
indeed looks superficially weasel- like, with its long and
sleek body and long tail. It is 0.9– 1.4 m (3– 5 ft) in length,Plate 16- 56. Margays can sometimes be seen during the day,
as they rest in trees. Photo by James Adams.Plate 16- 55. Ocelots are most commonly observed at night,
while they are hunting. Photo by Sean Williams.chapter 16 from monkeys to tarantulas: endless eccentricities 343