| Margay Leopardus weidii |
Size: females and males 3.2 kg (7 lbs).
Habitat: Evergreean and deciduous forest.
Primary prey: Small arboreal mammals such as climbing rats, squirrels, opossums and birds.
Conservation Status: Indeterminate.
Principal threats: Loss of habitat due to deforestation; illegal hunting.
Distribution: The margay is found in forests from southern Mexico to the northern boundary of Argentina.
Notable Features: An excellent climber, the margay has very flexible ankles that allow it to climb down trees head first like a squirrel. It hunts in trees and can hang from a single branch by a foot with some assistance from its long, muscular tail.
|
Produced by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. © Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Foundation This page was made possible by a grant from Friskies Pet Care Corporation and the National Science Foundation. All photographic images contained within these web pages ARE COPYRIGHTED and may not be reproduced, or utilized in any manner, without the express written consent the owner. Margay photograph by Nancy Vandermey, © Nancy Vandermey, Exotic Feline Breeding Compound. Page design by Jim Angus |