margay
Sign in to saveThe margay (Leopardus wiedii) is a small wild cat native to Mexico, Central and South America. A solitary and nocturnal felid, it lives mainly in primary evergreen and deciduous forest.
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The margay is a small wild cat found throughout Mexico, Central, and South America that hunts alone at night in forests. It is adapted to life in primary evergreen and deciduous forests, where it plays a role as a carnivore in its ecosystem.
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Article
10 sectionsContents
- Characteristics
- Distribution and habitat
- Fossil record
- Behavior and ecology
- Diet
- Reproduction and lifecycle
- Taxonomy
- Local names
- References
- External links
The margay (Leopardus wiedii) is a small wild cat native to Mexico, Central and South America. A solitary and nocturnal felid, it lives mainly in primary evergreen and deciduous forest.
Until the 1990s, margays were hunted for the wildlife trade, at which point the killing of the species was outlawed in most countries; however, years of persecution resulted in a notable population decrease. Since 2008, the margay has been listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, as the population is thought to be declining due to loss of habitat and deforestation.