Andean Mountain Cat

Andean Mountain Cat

Andean cat, Mountain cat

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Subfamily
Genus
SPECIES
Leopardus jacobita
Population size
1,378
Life Span
16 years
Weight
6
12
kglbs
kg lbs 
Height
36
14
cminch
cm inch 
Length
57-85
22.4-33.5
cminch
cm inch 

The Andean mountain cat (Leopardus jacobita) is a small wild cat native to the high Andes. It is regarded as one of the world’s most endangered wild cats and perhaps South America’s rarest felid, yet, as far as cat species go, it is amongst the least known. The Andean mountain cat is traditionally considered a sacred animal by indigenous Aymara and Quechua people.

Appearance

The Andean mountain cat has ashy-gray fur, a grey head, face and rounded ears. The nose and lips are black with the areas around them being white; two dark brown lines run from the corners of the eyes across the cheeks. There are some black spots on the forelegs, yellowish-brown blotches on the flanks, and up to two narrow, dark rings on the hind limbs. The long bushy tail has six to nine rings, which are dark brown to black. The markings of juveniles are darker and smaller than those of adults.

Video

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms
Mountains

Andean mountain cats live in Bolivia, southern Peru to northwestern Argentina, and northern Chile in the Andean mountain region. Their habitat is very specialized, as they live only in the arid to semi-arid areas high up in the Andes Mountains. Their preferred habitat is usually above the timberline, a habitat which is mostly very rocky with scattered tola bushes, bunchgrass, and other small shrubs. These cats also inhabit high mountain grasslands that have wet, grassy meadows with various shrubs.

Andean Mountain Cat habitat map
Andean Mountain Cat habitat map
Andean Mountain Cat
Attribution-ShareAlike License

Habits and Lifestyle

Essentially, little is known about the Andean mountain cat’s behavior. Its range is so inhospitable and remote that it has been very difficult to survey the region and there are no known Andean mountain cats in captivity. They are thought to be mainly nocturnal, though some have been sighted during the day. These cats are very agile during hunting, exploring under and around boulders to seek their prey. As they hunt, their tail is often held up high, their long tail being important to help with their balance and agility while they hunt in mountainous, rocky terrain. From the few observations that have been recorded, Andean mountain cats seem to be solitary animals and unafraid of humans.

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Andean mountain cats are carnivores and have a specialized diet of mountain viscachas and mountain chinchillas. However, they also eat reptiles, birds, and small mammals, such as tuco tucos and rabbits.

Mating Habits

REPRODUCTION SEASON
July-August
BABY CARRYING
1-3 kittens
FEMALE NAME
queen
MALE NAME
tomcat
BABY NAME
kitten

Due to the very few observations in the wild, there are no records of the reproductive behavior of Andean mountain cats. By using the local people’s observations of Andean mountain cats in pairs with their litters, the theory is arrived at that the Andean mountain cat’s mating season is between July and August. Because some kittens are seen from April to October, the mating season may extend as far as November or December. A litter usually numbers one to three and is born during spring or summer. Many other species also bear their young when food sources are increasing.

Population

Population threats

It is not known whether the Andean mountain cat’s rarity is a natural phenomenon or is attributable to human actions. These cats may be endangered as a result of habitat deterioration and hunting by humans for pelts. In fact, the decrease in numbers of their main prey, mountain viscachas and mountain chinchillas, may be the main reason for their low numbers.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total number of the Andean mountain cat is unknown for today, but it is suggested that around 1,378 mature individuals exist in the wild. This species’ numbers are decreasing today and it is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List.

Ecological niche

Andean mountain cats are significant predators of mountain chinchillas, mountain viscachas, and possibly other vertebrate species of small to medium size throughout their range, affecting their populations.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Locals know the Andean mountain cat as ‘huana titi’, which means ‘the cat from dry places’, an apt description of its typical habitat.
  • In 1865 the Andean mountain cat was first described, and until recently, almost all data about this animal were based on 3 samples of skulls, 14 samples of skin, and 2 photographs.
  • This cat has a superb sense of hearing, due to its well-developed ear drums. Its sense of hearing is used for the detection of prey.
  • The Andean mountain cat makes use of its long tail (which is 70% of its body length) for balance when chasing its prey that moves unpredictably and quickly changes direction when trying to escape.
  • The small cats cannot roar as the big cats do, because their throats have bones that are close together and hardened, so they are only able to produce smaller vibrations. They mew, growl, and scream instead. Small cats (including domestic cats) can purr nonstop while breathing both in and out, but big cats can only purr as they breathe out, the purr being interrupted when they breathe in. This purring noise made by big cats is sometimes referred to by their keepers as a "chuffle.”

Coloring Pages

References

1. Andean Mountain Cat Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andean_mountain_cat
2. Andean Mountain Cat on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15452/0

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