Since the beginning , the felines, big and small, awakening in the men the most varied feelings. With its grace and natural agility, the felídeos constitutes one of the most beautiful families of animals found in nature. It is rarely who doesn't admire the imposing elegance of the great felines, the rhythmic dance of its silent walk and its indefatigable patience.

The great felines are highly adapted predators, with muscular and agile bodies, sharpened senses, fast reflexes and a coat genetic and naturally developed that allow the camouflage in its environment. Its patience and ability to move quickly and secret are basic elements in a feline.

Even thought considering the fascination, the felines are still not well studied and known. From 37 well-known species, 10 species we can find in the neo-tropical area and within these 10, eight are original from Brazil. Every and each one are on IBAMA red list and of the International Union for the Conservation of the Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), represented by the threatened of extinction species. Inside of the threatened category, they are characterized by the vulnerability , what means that suffer indirect risks (CEPAN, 2006).

Out of the eight species found in Brazil, two of them are great felines: the jaguar and black (Panthera ounce) and puma (Puma concolor). And among the others six are: oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus), margay (Leopardus wiedii), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi), pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo), geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi).

Among the species of felines that inhabit the State Biological Reservation of Aguaí, the project tries to supply information about the existence of the felines about jaguatirica, puma and the colored ounce that are the largest felines of the continent, along its distributions, the largest terrestrial predators in all the habitats neo tropical

Oncilla

Scientific name: Leopardus tigrinus (Schreber, 1775)

Common name: Oncilla or Tiger cat (Gato-do-mato-pequeno);

Behavior: nocturnal and solitary;

Habitat: savanna, dry shrubland, savanna wetland, but mainly tropical and subtropical forests (including riverine forests).

Diet: Carnivore, mainly small vertebrate like rodents and birds.

Geographic distribution: from the South of Costa Rica to the North of Argentina. In Brazil they occur from the Amazon forest to the Atlantic forest and to the Southern plains.

Breeding: gestation period is 70 to 74 days, the average litter is 2 (2-4).

Description: The smallest wild cat in South America, averaging 50 cm (40 to 60cm), with a long tail averaging 26 cm (20 to 32cm ) and average weight of 2,5 kg (2-3,5kg). The coat color varies, ranging from light yellow to yellow-brown, with several dark stripes across the tail and rosettes bearing dark round spots on the side of the body. Melanism is a common occurrence.

Status: On IBAMA’s Official List of Endangered Brazilian Mammals, CITES appendix II, not very well know by UICN.

Main Threats: In the past it was hunted for the fur, now habitat destruction remains the major threat.

Text: Marcelo Lima Reis
Available in http://nex.org.br
Bibliography: Oliveira, T. G. de Neotropical Cats: Ecology and Conservation. 1994
Emmons, L. H. / Feer, F Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a field guide - Second Edition. 1998

Margay

Scientific name: Leopardus Wiedii (Schinz, 1821)

Common name: Margay (Gato maracajá, gato do mato)

Behavior: nocturnal, arboreal, solitary;

Habitat: savanna, dry shrubland, savanna wetland, but mainly tropical and subtropical forests (including riverine forests).

Diet: Carnivore, mainly small vertebrate like rodents and birds, but also fruit and seeds in a lesser ratio.

Geographic distribution: from north of Mexico down to Uruguay and the north of Argentina (except the Andes). In Brazil it occurs in all regions, from the Amazon basin to the South, in every remaining forests.

Breeding: gestation period is 81 to 84 days, litter of one kitten.

Description: A small species, like a miniature Leopardus Pardalis, can even be easily confused with it. The average weight is 3kg (2-5kg). Head and body measure approximately 53cm (46-62). The most striking features are its large and protuberant eyes, a projecting muzzle, large paws and quite a long tail, that accounts for almost 40% of its body length (30-48cm). Coat color ranges from yellow-gray to ochre-brown, with large, sparse rosettes, complete and largely spread on the sides. Nuchal hairs are thrust towards the head. The animal can sit on its hind legs.

Status: On IBAMA’s Official List of Endangered Brazilian Mammals, CITES appendix II, Not very well known by UICN

Main Threats: In the past, it has been heavily exploited for its fur. However, habitat destruction is now the primary threat to reduced populations.

Text: Marcelo Lima Reis
Available in http://nex.org.br
Bibliography: Oliveira, T. G. de Neotropical Cats: Ecology and Conservation. 1994
Emmons, L. H. / Feer, F Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a field guide - Second Edition. 1998


Ocelot

Scientific name: Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common name: Ocelot (Jaguatirica)

Behavior: mainly nocturnal but also diurnal, terrestrial, solitary

Habitat: savanna, dry shrubland, savanna wetland, but mainly tropical and subtropical forests (including riverine forests).

Diet: Essentially carnivore. The most common preys are small vertebrates, like rodents, birds and lizards, but ocelots can also feed on larger mammals.

Geographic distribution: from the southeast of Texas, in United States, and the west of Mexico to the north of Argentina (except the Andes). In Brazil, ocelots occur throughout the territory, with the exception of the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Breeding: gestation period is 70 to 85 days, average litter is 2 (1-4). Sexual maturity is achieved between 18 and 22 months in females and around 30 months in males.

Description: A medium sized species, averaging in length from 67 to 100cm, with a relatively short tail (30 to 44cm, 46% of body length). The average weight is around 11kg (8-15kg). The body is slim, though the head and paws are big. The fur is short and thick, overall light yellow, but whitish in the ventral area. Hairs in head and neck are thrust froward. Dark rosettes appear laterally beginning on the ventral side and merge into stripes in the limbs proximal area. In the dorsal side, the spots merge into lines that go from the top of the skull to the tail insertion point. Dark spots tend to form open rosettes that coalesce into longitudinal stripes on the side. Young calves are very similar to Leopardus wiedii.

Status: On IBAMA’s Official List of Endangered Brazilian Mammals, CITES appendix II.

Main Threats: In the past, ocelots were much sought for the fur market. Currently, habitat destruction is one of the main threats.

Text: Marcelo Lima Reis
Available in http://nex.org.br
Bibliography: Oliveira, T. G. de Neotropical Cats: Ecology and Conservation. 1994
Emmons, L. H. / Feer, F Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a field guide - Second Edition. 1998


Jaguarundi

Scientific name: Puma yagouaroundi (E. Geoffroy, 1803)

Common name: Jaguarundi (Jaguarundi, gato-mourisco)

Behavior: mainly crepuscular, terrestrial, solitary.

Habitat: savanna, dry shrubland, savanna wetland, but mainly tropical and subtropical forests (including riverine forests).

Diet: Carnivore, mainly small vertebrates like rodents and birds.

Geographic distribution: from the south of Texas down to Patagonia in Argentina (except the Andes). In Brazil they occur in all regions, except for the Southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Breeding: Gestation period is 72 to 75 days, average litter is 2 (1-4).

Description: A medium sized animal, averaging 63 cm (49-77cm), with a long tail averaging 42cm (28 to 59cm), average weight 5,2kg (3-7kg). The body is elongated, with a small flat head, small and nicely rounded ears. Limbs are relatively short. The coat has a uniform color, sometimes dapple-gray, ranging from ochre-brown to yellow.

Main Threats: Altered habitat, scarce prey availability

Text: Marcelo Lima Reis
Available in http://nex.org.br
Bibliography: Oliveira, T. G. de Neotropical Cats: Ecology and Conservation. 1994
Emmons, L. H. / Feer, F Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a field guide - Second Edition. 1998


Pampas cat

Scientific name: Leopardus colocolo (Molina, 1810)

Common name: Pampas cat (Gato-palheiro, gato-dos-pampas)

Behavior: mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, terrestrial, solitary;

Habitat: flatlands of the South, savanna, savanna wetland, swamps and flooded areas (open areas). In other countries, it may occur in tropical forests.

Diet: Carnivore, mainly small vertebrate: rodents and ground-dwelling birds.

Geographic distribution: from Ecuador and Peru, in the Andes, to the southernmost part of the continent. In Brazil, it is believed to occur from Rio Grande do Sul, part of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, and Central Brazil, to the southeast of Piauí, west of Bahia and Minas Gerais.

Breeding: gestation period is 80 to 85 days, average litter is 2 (1-3).

Description: Medium sized species, averaging 63 cm in length (49 to 77cm), with a long tail ranging from 28 to 59cm (average 42 cm), average weight of 5,2kg (3-7kg). The body is elongated with a small, flat head and small rounded ears. Limbs are relatively short. Coat color is uniform, ranging from dapple-gray to red-orange to gray, with dark stripes on the limbs and dark blotches on the belly and on the side. It has longer hairs on its back, from head to tail, which set on end when it feels threatened. This species is the most closely resembled to the domestic cat.

Status: On IBAMA’s Official List of Endangered Brazilian Mammals, CITES appendix II and undetermined by UICN;

Main Threats: Loss of habitat to harvesting and cattle grazing.

Text: Marcelo Lima Reis
Available in http://nex.org.br
Bibliography: Oliveira, T. G. de Neotropical Cats: Ecology and Conservation. 1994
Emmons, L. H. / Feer, F Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a field guide - Second Edition. 1998


Geoffroy’s cat

Scientific name: Leopardus geoffroyi (d’Orbigny & Grvais, 1843)

Common name: Geoffroy’s cat (Gato-do-mato-grande)

Behavior: Nocturnal and solitary

Habitat: savanna, dry shrubland, savanna wetland, but mainly the tropical and subtropical forests (including riverine forests).

Diet: Carnivore, mainly small vertebrates like rodents and birds.

Geographic distribution: from the south of Texas to the Patagonia in Argentina (except the Andes). In Brazil, they occur throughout the territory, except in Rio Grande do Sul.

Breeding: gestation period is 70 to 76 days, and the average litter is 2 or 3, once a year.

Description: A small species, averaging 58 cm long (43 to 70cm), with a long tail averaging 32 cm (24 to 36cm), and average weight around 4kg (2-6kg). Flexible body, the coat ranging from light gray to ochre-yellow, with innumerable dark spots that do not form rosettes. Limbs and tail present dark stripes, and the base of the neck and the dorsal region have fine dark stripes. Melanism is quite common.

Status: On IBAMA’s Official List of Endangered Brazilian Mammals, CITES appendix II.

Main Threats: In the past, the pelts were very much appreciated in the fur market. Currently the main threat is habitat destruction.

Text: Marcelo Lima Reis
Available in http://nex.org.br
Bibliography: Oliveira, T. G. de Neotropical Cats: Ecology and Conservation. 1994
Emmons, L. H. / Feer, F Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a field guide - Second Edition. 1998


Puma

Scientific name: Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771)

Common name: Puma in Brazil: Suçuarana, onça-parda, onça-vermelha );

Behavior: crepuscular-nocturnal (mainly) and diurnal, terrestrial, solitary;

Habitat: savanna, dry shrubland, savanna wetland, but mainly in tropical and subtropical forests (including riverine forests), both primary and secondary.

Diet: Carnivore, mainly small vertebrates: rodents, birds and lizards, but they can feed on larger animals like deer and hog.

Geographic distribution: from west of Canada, in North America, to the extreme south of the South-American continent (except the Andes). They occur in all regions in Brazil, with the exception of the south of Rio Grande do Sul.

Breeding: gestation period is 70 to 90 days, the average litter is 2 (1-6).

Description: The second largest feline species in Brazil. The body is long and slim, with an average length of 108 cm (90-153 cm), and a long tail averaging 61cm (46-81 cm). Adult males are heavier (55-65kg) than females (35-45 kg). The coat is uniformly colored, ranging from light yellow to dark reddish-brown. Kitten coat is quite dense, with round dark spots that disappear when they reach six months of age.

Status: On IBAMA’s Official List of Endangered Brazilian Mammals, CITES appendix II;

Main Threats: Altered habitat, scarce prey availability. Ranchers tend to consider pumas as a threat to livestock. Pumas are vulnerable because they return to their kills, which can be poisoned.

Text: Marcelo Lima Reis
Available in http://nex.org.br
Bibliography: Oliveira, T. G. de Neotropical Cats: Ecology and Conservation. 1994
Emmons, L. H. / Feer, F Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a field guide - Second Edition. 1998


Jaguar

Scientific name: Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common name: Jaguar (“Onça-pintada”, “onça-preta”);

Behavior: Crepuscular and nocturnal, terrestrial, solitary;

Habitat: dry scrubland, savanna, wetlands, but mainly the tropical and subtropical forests, including riverine forests.

Diet: Carnivore, especially large mammals such as peccaries, capybara, deer and hog, but they may also feed on reptiles: tortoises, river turtles and alligators.

Geographic distribution: currently found in the coastal plains of Mexico, in North America, down to the North of Argentina, except in the Andes. In Brazil it formerly occurred in all the territory, but is now restricted to the northern region, including East of Maranhão, in some areas of Central Brazil, Pantanal, and in some isolated areas in the South and Southeast.

Breeding: the gestation period is from 90 to 111 days, and the average litter is two (1-4).

Description: The jaguar is the largest cat of the Americas. It is stocky and muscled, averaging 132 cm long (110-175cm) with a relatively short tail (48-68 cm), and the average weight is 61 kg (35-130 kg). Coat color ranges from very light yellow to ocher-brown, and the whole body is covered with broken-edged rosettes around small black spots. Melanism is frequent (black). The two varieties of Brazilian jaguars, “onca preta” (black jaguar) and “onça pintada”( dotted jaguar) belong in the same species and may breed either black or dotted cubs in the same litter. A black jaguar may also present the same dotted pattern.

Status: Included in the Brazilian Official List of Endangered Brazilian Mammals (IBAMA). CITES - appendix I and UICN Vulnerable;

Main Threats: Altered habitat, with the ensuing reduction of prey availability. Also, because they are livestock predators, they are frequently hunted.

Text: Marcelo Lima Reis
Available in http://nex.org.br
Bibliography: Oliveira, T. G. de Neotropical Cats: Ecology and Conservation. 1994
Emmons, L. H. / Feer, F Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a field guide - Second Edition. 1998