Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)

MammalWild catAmericas

Overview

The jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) is one of the most unusual-looking wild cats in the Americas — so much so that it is often mistaken for something else entirely. With a long, slender body, short legs, a small flattened head, rounded ears, and a long tail, it looks more like a weasel, otter, or even a small mustelid than a typical cat. Its coat is plain and unmarked, ranging from grey to reddish-brown.

Unlike most small cats, the jaguarundi is largely active by day, and it is unusually vocal, with a wide repertoire of calls — chirps, whistles, purrs, and chatters. Despite the name, it is not closely related to the jaguar; it is most closely allied to the puma.

Note: details here cover the jaguarundi as a species; treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Jaguarundis range from the southern United States and Mexico through Central America and into much of South America, in a wide variety of habitats — lowland forest, scrub, grassland, thickets, wetlands, and forest edge — generally favouring areas with dense ground cover near water. They are adaptable and often use brushy, edge, and even disturbed habitats.

Diet

The jaguarundi is a carnivore that hunts mostly small prey — rodents, birds, rabbits, reptiles, and invertebrates — and will take larger prey occasionally, as well as some fruit. It hunts largely on the ground by day, slipping through dense cover, though it climbs and swims well. Its low, elongated build suits pursuing prey through thick vegetation.

Behavior

Jaguarundis are mainly solitary and, unusually for cats, predominantly diurnal — most active in daylight, especially morning. They are agile on the ground and capable climbers and swimmers, and they are notably talkative, using an exceptional variety of vocalisations to communicate. Their plain coat comes in two main colour phases — a dark grey form and a reddish (“eyra”) form — which can occur even within the same litter, and which once led people to think they were two species. They mark and patrol home ranges and den in dense thickets, hollow logs, or similar cover.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Jaguarundis are widespread and, across their range as a whole, not currently considered globally threatened, although some populations — such as those at the northern edge in the United States and certain regional groups — are rare or endangered, mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation. They are sometimes seen near farmland and may occasionally take poultry. As wild cats they are not suited to life as pets. Consult the IUCN Red List for current status.

More photos of the jaguarundi