Difference between revisions of "Jaguarundi" - New World Encyclopedia
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The jaguarundi ''(Puma yagouaroundi)'' is part of the '''Felidae''' family, which belongs to the Carnivora order within the [[mammal]]s (Class Mammalia). [[Felidae]] usually is divided into two subfamilies, Pantherinae (which includes "big cats" like [[lion]]s, [[jaguar]]s, [[tiger]]s, and [[leopard]]s) and Felinae (which includes the "small cats," although some can be large, like the cougar). The jaguarundi is part of the Felinae subfamily and share the same [[genus]], ''Puma'', as the [[cougar]] ''(Puma concolor)''. | The jaguarundi ''(Puma yagouaroundi)'' is part of the '''Felidae''' family, which belongs to the Carnivora order within the [[mammal]]s (Class Mammalia). [[Felidae]] usually is divided into two subfamilies, Pantherinae (which includes "big cats" like [[lion]]s, [[jaguar]]s, [[tiger]]s, and [[leopard]]s) and Felinae (which includes the "small cats," although some can be large, like the cougar). The jaguarundi is part of the Felinae subfamily and share the same [[genus]], ''Puma'', as the [[cougar]] ''(Puma concolor)''. | ||
| − | The jaguarundi is | + | The jaguarundi is a small-sized felid, somewhat larger than a domesticated house cat (Rick and Lundrigan 2004). The head and body length averages about 65 centimeters (30 inches), ranging between 50.5 and 77 centimeters, with a long tail about 45 centimeters (20 inches), ranging from 33 to 60 centimeters (Rick and Lundrigan 2004). Jaguarundis weight about 6 kilograms (13.2 pounds), ranging from 4.5 to 9.0 kilograms (Rick and Lundrigan 2004). The shoulder height is approximately 35 centimeters (14 inches) (Rick and Lundrigan 2004). |
| + | The jaguarundi has short legs and an appearance somewhat like an [[otter]]. Early German zoologists called the species "weasel cat" because of its resemblance to members of the family [[Mustelidae]]. the jaguarundi has short and rounded ears. It tends to be smaller, more elongated, and with sorter limbs than other small neotropical felids (Rick and Lundrigan 2004). | ||
| − | + | The coat of the jaguarundi is unspotted and uniform in color. There are several color morphs, and varying from blackish to brownish gray (gray phase) or from foxy red to chestnut (red phase). The two main color phases—dark grayish-black and reddish—were once thought to represent two distinct species; the gray one called ''jaguarundi'', and the red one called ''eyra''. However, these are the same species and both color phases may be found in the same litter (Caso et al. 2008; Rick and Lundrigan 2004). Its coat has no markings except for spots at birth. | |
| − | + | In some Spanish speaking countries, the jaguarundi is also called ''leoncillo'', which means ''little lion''. Other Spanish common names for the jaguarundi include: "gato colorado," "gato moro," "león brenero," "[[onza]]," and "tigrillo" (Caso et al. 2008). | |
| + | |||
| + | As with all members of Felidae, the jaguarundi walks on four feet, in a digitigrade manner—that is on its toes. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Distribution and habitat== | ||
| + | Caso et al. | ||
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Its habitat is lowland brush areas close to a source of running water. It occasionally inhabits dense tropical areas as well. It is [[crepuscular]] and [[nocturnal]] depending on location. This cat is comfortable in trees, but prefers to hunt on the ground. It preys upon fish, small mammals, reptiles and birds. | Its habitat is lowland brush areas close to a source of running water. It occasionally inhabits dense tropical areas as well. It is [[crepuscular]] and [[nocturnal]] depending on location. This cat is comfortable in trees, but prefers to hunt on the ground. It preys upon fish, small mammals, reptiles and birds. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Behavior, diet, and reproduction== |
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The litter consists of one to four kittens. They are raised socially after a 70-day gestation. The kittens become mature at approximately 2 years of age. | The litter consists of one to four kittens. They are raised socially after a 70-day gestation. The kittens become mature at approximately 2 years of age. | ||
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==Taxonomy and evolution== | ==Taxonomy and evolution== | ||
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{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
| − | + | A. Caso, C. Lopez-Gonzalez, E. Payan, E. Eizirik, T. de Oliveira, R. Leite-Pitman, M. Kelly, and C. Valderrama, [http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/9948 ''Puma yagouaroundi'']. In IUCN, ''2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'' (IUCN 2008). Retrieved December 1, 2008. | |
| − | Caso, | ||
| − | |||
Rick, J. and B. Lundrigan. 2004. "Puma yagouaroundi" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 01, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Puma_yagouaroundi.html. | Rick, J. and B. Lundrigan. 2004. "Puma yagouaroundi" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 01, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Puma_yagouaroundi.html. | ||
Revision as of 20:05, 1 December 2008
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Jaguarundi is the common name for a small- to medium-sized Old World wild cat, Puma yagouaroundi, characterized by an elongated, "weasel"-like body, short legs, rounded ears, long tail, and an unspotted fur that comes in a few different color morphs. The jaguarundi is found in Mexico, Central America, and South America.
Overview and description
The jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) is part of the Felidae family, which belongs to the Carnivora order within the mammals (Class Mammalia). Felidae usually is divided into two subfamilies, Pantherinae (which includes "big cats" like lions, jaguars, tigers, and leopards) and Felinae (which includes the "small cats," although some can be large, like the cougar). The jaguarundi is part of the Felinae subfamily and share the same genus, Puma, as the cougar (Puma concolor).
The jaguarundi is a small-sized felid, somewhat larger than a domesticated house cat (Rick and Lundrigan 2004). The head and body length averages about 65 centimeters (30 inches), ranging between 50.5 and 77 centimeters, with a long tail about 45 centimeters (20 inches), ranging from 33 to 60 centimeters (Rick and Lundrigan 2004). Jaguarundis weight about 6 kilograms (13.2 pounds), ranging from 4.5 to 9.0 kilograms (Rick and Lundrigan 2004). The shoulder height is approximately 35 centimeters (14 inches) (Rick and Lundrigan 2004).
The jaguarundi has short legs and an appearance somewhat like an otter. Early German zoologists called the species "weasel cat" because of its resemblance to members of the family Mustelidae. the jaguarundi has short and rounded ears. It tends to be smaller, more elongated, and with sorter limbs than other small neotropical felids (Rick and Lundrigan 2004).
The coat of the jaguarundi is unspotted and uniform in color. There are several color morphs, and varying from blackish to brownish gray (gray phase) or from foxy red to chestnut (red phase). The two main color phases—dark grayish-black and reddish—were once thought to represent two distinct species; the gray one called jaguarundi, and the red one called eyra. However, these are the same species and both color phases may be found in the same litter (Caso et al. 2008; Rick and Lundrigan 2004). Its coat has no markings except for spots at birth.
In some Spanish speaking countries, the jaguarundi is also called leoncillo, which means little lion. Other Spanish common names for the jaguarundi include: "gato colorado," "gato moro," "león brenero," "onza," and "tigrillo" (Caso et al. 2008).
As with all members of Felidae, the jaguarundi walks on four feet, in a digitigrade manner—that is on its toes.
Distribution and habitat
Caso et al.
Its habitat is lowland brush areas close to a source of running water. It occasionally inhabits dense tropical areas as well. It is crepuscular and nocturnal depending on location. This cat is comfortable in trees, but prefers to hunt on the ground. It preys upon fish, small mammals, reptiles and birds.
Behavior, diet, and reproduction
The litter consists of one to four kittens. They are raised socially after a 70-day gestation. The kittens become mature at approximately 2 years of age.
Taxonomy and evolution
This cat is closely related to the much larger and heavier cougar as evident by its similar genetic structure and chromosome count; both species are in the genus Puma although it is sometimes classified under a separate genus, Herpailurus and until recently, both cats were classified under the genus Felis.
According to a 2006 genomic study of Felidae, an ancestor of today's Leopardus, Lynx, Puma, Prionailurus, and Felis lineages migrated across the Bering land bridge into the Americas approximately 8 to 8.5 million years ago. The lineages subsequently diverged in that order.[3]
Studies have indicated that the cougar and jaguarundi are next most closely related to the modern cheetah of Africa and western Asia,[3][4] but the relationship is unresolved. It has been suggested that ancestors of the cheetah diverged from the Puma lineage in the Americas and migrated back to Asia and Africa,[3][4] while other research suggests the cheetah diverged in the Old World itself.[5] The outline of small feline migration to the Americas is thus unclear (see also American cheetah).
Conservation
This cat is not particularly sought after for its fur, but it is suffering decline due to loss of habitat.
The jaguarundi has been sighted around the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.[6]
Subspecies
- Puma yagouaroundi armeghinoi, Western Argentina, Far-Eastern Chile
- Gulf Coast Jaguarundi, Puma yagouaroundi cacomitli, South Texas and eastern Mexico
- Puma yagouaroundi eyra, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina
- Puma yagouaroundi fossata, southern Mexico to Honduras
- Puma yagouaroundi melantho, Peru and Brazil
- Puma yagouaroundi panamensis, Nicaragua to Ecuador
- Puma yagouaroundi tolteca, Arizona and western Mexico
- Puma yagouaroundi yagouaroundi, Guyana and Amazon Rainforest
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ W. C. Wozencraft, "Order Carnivora," in D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds.), Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. (Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993). ISBN 1560982179.
- ↑ A. Caso, C. Lopez-Gonzalez, E. Payan, E. Eizirik, T. de Oliveira, R. Leite-Pitman, M. Kelly, and C. Valderrama, Puma yagouaroundi. In IUCN, 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved December 1, 2008. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Johnson, W.E., Eizirik, E., Pecon-Slattery, J., Murphy, W.J., Antunes, A., Teeling, E. & O'Brien, S.J. (6 January 2006). The Late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: A genetic assessment. Science 311 (5757): 73–77.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Culver, M. and Johnson, W.E., Pecon-Slattery, J., O'Brein, S.J. (2000). Genomic Ancestry of the American Puma. Journal of Heredity 91 (3): 186–97.
- ↑ Barnett, Ross and Ian Barnes, Matthew J. Phillips, Larry D. Martin, C. Richard Harington, Jennifer A. Leonard, and Alan Cooper (9 August 2005). Evolution of the extinct Sabretooths and the American cheetah-like cat. Current Biology 15 (15): R589–R590.
- ↑ Centre Spatial Guyanais - Un florilège de faune sauvage au CSG
A. Caso, C. Lopez-Gonzalez, E. Payan, E. Eizirik, T. de Oliveira, R. Leite-Pitman, M. Kelly, and C. Valderrama, Puma yagouaroundi. In IUCN, 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN 2008). Retrieved December 1, 2008.
Rick, J. and B. Lundrigan. 2004. "Puma yagouaroundi" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 01, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Puma_yagouaroundi.html. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Puma_yagouaroundi.html
External links
- Stock photographs with a variety of examples from both coat phases
- Jaguarundi page and photos at bigcatrescue.org
- http://ds.dial.pipex.com/agarman/bco/jundi.htm
- http://ds.dial.pipex.com/agarman/jundi.htm
- http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/yaguar01.htm
- http://www.jaguarundi.org
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