Species Hang in the Balance

BINOMIAL NAME :

Leopardus Wiedii

ANATOMICAL PROPORTIONS :

2.5 ft.-4.5 ft. long (tip-to-tail)/ 1-2 ft. tall/ 6.5-20 lbs .

POPULATION (APPROXIMATE) :

Insufficient Data

CONSERVATION STATUS :

NEAR THREATENED

DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT :

Rainforest, deciduous, and evergreen forests, from Northern Mexico, to Northern Argentina

DIET :

Small mammals (opossums, porcupines, monkeys, rodents), small reptiles, and insects

SPECIES THREATS :

At a time in the 1980's, when growing concern for ocelot poaching (one of the margay's neighboring species of cat), caused strict conservation measures to protect it, the margay bore the brunt of the fur-trade backlash. Margay populations dropped off sharply at that time, but by exactly how much is unknown. Today, trading margay pelts is internationally banned.

Unfortunately for this small, Central and South American cat, the margay remains threatened by its surrounding deforestation and habitat loss .

UNIQUE FACTS :

The margay spends most of its life in trees, where it hunts, eats, mates, and even bears litters.

The cat has been observed hanging upside down from tree limbs, attached from a single hind leg. They have such flexible ankles, that each one can pronate the foot, up to 180 degrees.

Indeed, the margay is an excellent climber, and aptly suited for tree-dwelling---its broad, soft feet help it to navigate the canopies, along with its tail, which is exceptionally long (nearly 70 percent of the animal's total body length), and aids in balance.

DEVOTED ORGANIZATION

Margay Alliance

This campaign was necessarily created---through this website---because there was no pre-existing organization for the margay. Anyone is welcome to join!

*Please note: this is not a solicitation for money or donations; users may join, free of obligation, commitment, or charge.

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