FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Are you a fan of everything feline? Here we're going to discuss one of the most interesting cats that have wide home ranges spanning North, Central, and South America. Jaguarundis (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) are an interesting species of the Felidae family with a flattened head, short legs, and a burly long tail. A Jaguarundi has a short fur coat that can have a grey morph or a red morph. Their habitat generally revolves around lowlands, areas of dense vegetation, primary and secondary forests, deserts, and even thorn scrubs. Though Jaguarundis enjoy being on the ground, they are also really good climbers as well as swimmers. One distinct feature of Jaguarundis is their variety of 13 vocalized calls, which helps them communicate. Though mostly a solitary animal, jaguarundis do come together to mate and have one to four cute kittens.
Jaguarundis are currently listed as of 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List. However, they have likely gone extinct in Texas. Interestingly, the Jaguarundi population is found in some parts of Florida. It is believed that they grew from an escaped pet group.
Keep on reading to know more about the best Jaguarundi facts!
A Jaguarundi is a part of the cat family and they are quite close to pumas.
Jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) falls under the class of 'Mammalia' in the genus 'Herpailurus'.
No clear data is found about the number of Jaguarundis that are present in the wild.
Jaguarundis are found in habitats like tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, deserts, thorn scrubs across North, South, and Central America.
A Jaguarundi likes to live a secretive life. Jaguarundis prefer to stay in the lowlands of Central and South America. The jaguarundi cat can live in open or closed habitat, but they prefer the presence of dense vegetation. Jaguarundis are one such New World felines that have the capacity to adapt to different types of environments fairly quickly. They also like to live near waters and have the ability to swim and cross small streams. These medium-sized cats are morning animals, and they like to hunt before noon. However, jaguarundis are classified as diurnal, meaning that they can be active at any time of the day. You may also spot a jaguarundi lounging on a tree, and they are great tree climbers, a quality that is useful in forested areas. This cat species is able to live at an altitude no more than 3200 m.
The jaguarundi prefers to live alone and they like to maintain their privacy. The only time a jaguarundi may interact with another one is during the mating season. Nevertheless, in Paraguay some jaguarundis have been found in pairs hinting to some group cohabiting with each other.
It has been studied that Jaguarundis in captivity can live up to 15 years of age. However, a certain answer cannot be found about their lifespan in the wild.
As a secretive animal, the reproduction life of jaguarundis hasn't been a topic of extensive study. However, they do show reproduction features like any other big cat. Jaguarundis are generally polygamous, but pairs have also been spotted in some areas. Most Jaguarundis are able to breed throughout the year. However, there might be a mating season in Mexico that lasts between November and December. Jaguarundis are known for their mating screams. To prepare for the birth, jaguarundis create dens in thickets or even in hollow tree logs. The gestation period can last up to 75 days. On average, a jaguarundi gives birth to four kittens per litter. The jaguarundi kitten is appropriately covered in thick fur. A fun fact about jaguarundis is that the female can take up to three years to reach sexual maturity.
As per the IUCN Red List Jaguarundis are enlisted as of 'Least Concern'. However, their population are regarded extinct in Texas.
When you first see Jaguarundis, they will look like oversized kittens. However, these smart cats know their way around the South American forests. The distinctive feature of a jaguarundi is its small flattened head which is weasel-like, complimented with rounded ears. They have a slender body, and their limbs are shorter compared to the size of the body. The long and fluffy tail of a jaguarundi will definitely make you want to touch it. There are two color variations found in the species. One is a dark-grey that almost looks black, and the other one is red, which may at times look brown. Some think that is due to the formation of two distinct breeds. Jaguarundis lack any spotting on their body, but the underbelly is slightly lighter than the rest of their coat. Jaguarundi kittens may have some spotting at birth. There is also some speculation regarding their coat turning darker in the winter months.
The wild cats jaguarundis are just as cute like all other felines. You would love to see their short legs and the long tail which makes them look just like a wild version of the common domesticated cat. The jaguarundis with dark black coats look especially beautiful.
Jaguarundis have 13 distinct calls which help them to vocalize and communicate amongst each other and with other animals. They even hiss or spit to warn their enemies. A female jaguarundi will also use her urine to mark a place during the mating season.
A jaguarundi is able to reach the length of 21-30 in (53 cm - 77 cm) and a height of almost 14 in (36 cm). So, they are a medium sized cat species. The long tail of a jaguarundi itself measures around 12–20 in (31–52 cm). Jaguarundis can be two times the size of a domestic cat.
Jaguarundis can run very fast like other cat species and it can be due to their closeness with pumas. The average speed of a Jaguarundi is 60 mph or 96 km/hr, which is extremely fast for this New World feline species.
The weight of a jaguarundi can average between 7.7–15.4 lb (3.5–7 kg).
There are no specific names for the male and female of the jaguarundis.
As a jaguarundi is part of the cat family their babies are called kittens.
Jaguarundis are carnivores, so they are pretty much adapted to eating all forms of meat or other sources of protein. But, their usual food list includes small ground birds, rodents, small mammals, reptiles, fish, rabbits, small deer, and even carrion. They usually hunt for an animal that is below 2.2 lb or 1 kg.
As wild solitary animals, a Jaguarundi can seldom be described as a friendly animal. Very little is known about these interesting cat species. But, just like with any other wild cats you shouldn't get too close to a jaguarundi. They might become dangerous and aggressive to a stranger who invades their privacy.
No, a jaguarundi is not supposed to be a pet. In the past, they may have been kept as pets, especially in the United States. It might have led to the introduction of the jaguarundi population in Florida. However, it isn't legal to have a jaguarundi puma with you as a pet. In the Central American region, starting from Mexico, the jaguarundi population has been a common part of culture. They have described this species as a 'tame' animal, and they were used to control rodents.
A jaguarundi puma doesn't have ears with contrasting coloured backs which is pretty common in felines.
For a jaguarundi, Puma yagouaroundi was used as a scientific name since 2017. However, it was reclassified into the taxonomic group of Herpailurus yagouaroundi by the Cat Specialist Group of IUCN. The name 'Herpailurus' was first proposed in 1858 by Nikolai Severtzov, but taxonomists preferred to use puma or cougar as their classification. So, using the binomial name of Puma yagouaroundi is incorrect.
Jaguarundis aren't endangered. They are currently listed as 'Least Concern' under the IUCN Red List. However, their population is declining in some areas because of habitat loss. Also, Texas might be a place where the jaguarundi population has truly gone extinct. The last jaguarundi Texas ever saw was in 1986. There have been trials of restoring the habitat of the Texas parks present Rio Grande Valley to encourage the growth of jaguarundi population numbers in Southern Texas.
Another name for a jaguarundi is 'otter-cat' or 'weasel cat'.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Jaguarundi coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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