Jaguarundi: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Wild Cats · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. With its long body, short legs, small round ears and long tail, this cat looks more like a weasel or an otter.
2. Jaguarundis come in two colours, grey and fox red, and kittens of both colours can be born in the same litter.
3. It is a real chatterbox: 13 different calls have been recorded, from whistles and yaps to a chirp that sounds like a bird.
4. Most small spotted cats are active at night, but the jaguarundi prefers the daytime. In Belize, its hunting peaked from late morning to noon.
5. It can climb, but it mostly hunts on the ground. To catch a bird, it can leap up to 2 m into the air.

The quiz

1. With its long body and short legs, what does the jaguarundi resemble?

• A rabbit
• A weasel or otter (correct)
• A small deer
• A monkey

Its shape resembles animals of the weasel family.

2. What two colours do jaguarundis come in?

• Blue and green
• White and yellow
• Spotted and striped
• Grey and red (correct)

There is a grey form and a red form, and both can appear in one litter.

3. How many different jaguarundi calls have been recorded?

• 13 (correct)
• 1
• 3
• 50

Researchers have recorded 13 calls, including a bird-like chirp.

4. When does the jaguarundi prefer to hunt?

• Only at midnight
• During the day (correct)
• Only in winter
• Only when it rains

Unlike most spotted cats, it is mainly active by day.

5. How high can a jaguarundi leap to catch a bird?

• 10 cm
• 50 cm
• Up to 2 m (correct)
• 8 m

It can spring up to 2 m into the air after birds.

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