The margay looks similar to the bigger ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and the smaller tiger cats (Leopardus tigrinus/Leopardus guttulus) which have similar coat patterns and colors. It is closer to the tiger cats in size but in appearance it resembles the ocelot. In some parts of South America, it is even called “little ocelot”. Other names include the tree ocelot, climbing ocelot or tigrillo. However, the margay differs from the ocelot as the head is shorter, the eyes are larger, and the tail and legs are longer. As you read this article, you will discover further details about this unique wild cat.
Features Of The Margay
- Fur Color – Its fur is brown and marked with numerous rows of dark brown or black rosettes and longitudinal streaks.
- Undersides & Tail Color – The undersides are paler, ranging from buff to white, and the tail has numerous dark bands and a black tip.
- Ears Color – The backs of the ears are black with circular white markings in the centre.
- Weight & Length – The margay weighs from 2.6 to 4 kg (5.7 to 8.8 lb), with a body length of 48 to 79 cm (19 to 31 in), and a tail length of 33 to 51 cm (13 to 20 in). Unlike most other cats, the female possesses only two teats.
Scientific Classification Of The Margay
Margay – Leopardus wiedii [Scientific name]
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae
- Subfamily: Felinae
- Genus: Leopardus
- Species: L. wiedii
Did You Know? Most notably the margay is a much more skillful climber than its relative, and it is sometimes called the tree ocelot because of this ability. Whereas the ocelot mostly pursues prey on the ground, the margay may spend its entire life in the trees, leaping after and chasing birds and monkeys through the treetops.
Habitat Of The Margay
The margay is found from southern Mexico, through Central America and in northern South America east of the Andes. The southern edge of its range reaches Uruguay and northern Argentina. They are found almost exclusively in areas of dense forest, ranging from tropical evergreen forest to tropical dry forest and high cloud forest. Margays have sometimes also been observed in coffee and cocoa plantations.
Diet Of The Margay
The margay hunts small mammals, including monkeys, and birds, eggs, lizards and tree frogs. It also eats grass, fruit and other vegetation, most likely to help digestion. A 2006 report about a margay chasing squirrels in its natural environment confirmed that the margay is able to hunt its prey entirely in trees. However, margays do sometimes hunt on the ground, and have been reported to eat terrestrial prey, such as cane rats and guinea pigs.
Reproduction Of The Margay
Female margays are in estrus for four to ten days over a cycle of 32 to 36 days, during which they attract males with a long, moaning call. The male responds by yelping or making trilling sounds, and also by rapidly shaking his head from side to side, a behavior not seen in any other cat species. Copulation lasts up to sixty seconds, and is similar to that in domestic cats; it takes place primarily in the trees, and occurs several times while the female is in heat. Unlike other felid species, margays are not induced ovulators.
Kittens: Gestation lasts about 80 days, and generally results in the birth of a single kitten (very rarely, there are two) usually between March and June. Kittens weigh 85 to 170 g (3.0 to 6.0 oz) at birth. This is relatively large for a small cat, and is probably related to the long gestation period. The kittens open their eyes at around two weeks of age, and begin to take solid food at seven to eight weeks.
Ten Facts About The Margay
- The margay is one of only two cat species with the ankle flexibility necessary to climb head-first down trees (the other being the clouded leopard, although the poorly studied marbled cat may also have this ability).
- It is remarkably agile; its ankles can turn up to 180 degrees, it can grasp branches equally well with its fore and hind paws, and it is able to jump up to 12 ft (3.7 m) horizontally.
- The margay has been observed to hang from branches with only one foot.
- The margay is nocturnal, but has also been observed hunting during the day in some areas. It prefers to spend most of its life in trees, but also travels on the ground, especially when moving between hunting areas.
- During the day, it rests in relatively inaccessible branches or clumps of lianas.
- It is usually solitary and lives in home ranges of 11–16 km2 (4.2–6.2 sq mi).
- It uses scent marking to indicate its territory, including urine spraying and leaving scratch marks on the ground or on branches.
- Its vocalisations all appear to be short range; it does not call over long distances.
- A margay has been observed to mimic the vocalisation of a pied tamarin (Saguinus bicolor) infant while hunting. This represents the first observation of a Neotropical predator employing this type of mimicry.
- Margays reach sexual maturity at twelve to eighteen months of age, and have been reported to live more than 20 years in captivity.
Margay In Guyana
Yes, the margay is indeed a unique wild cat in Guyana. Unlike other cats, the margay is able to move down the tree, with its head going before its feet. This is possible because it has flexible ankles of the front feet that can be rotated for 180 degrees. It spends most of its life in trees and usually rests well above ground in hollow branches or among vine tangles. So, although this animal may resemble the ocelot and oncilla, it is quite different as it possesses its own distinct abilities and characteristics.
Article References:
- http://www.catsg.org/index.php?id=89
- https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Leopardus_wiedii/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margay
- https://iwokrama.org/mammals/guides/carn1.html
- http://guyanachronicle.com/2015/08/30/wildcats-of-guyana
- Main Image: https://adlayasanimals.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/margay-cat-photo-relax-tree.jpg
