Kodkod
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| Leopardus guigna (Molina, 1782) |
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 Kodkod range map
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The Kodkod (Leopardus guigna), also known as the Guiña, is the smallest Cat in the Americas and is found only in Chile and Argentina. Little is known about this species because it is extremely rare.
The usual size of a Kodkod is 2.2 kg (4-6 lb), with typical lengths of 39-51 cm (15-20 in). Its base coat ranges from yellow-brown to reddish-brown and has dark spots, but completely black cats are not rare.
It lives in evergreen temperate rainforests, deciduous temperate moist forests, sclerophyllous scrub, and coniferous forests.
The primary prey of the Kodkod are small rodents and birds. Its most unusual characteristic is that it nests in bamboo thickets under trees.
There are two subspecies of this cat: O. g. guigna and O. g. trigillo.
Gestation lasts 72-78 days. Its litter size is 1-3 kittens. This species live to about 11 years.
[edit] References
- ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (16 November 2005). in Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 538. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
- ^ Cat Specialist Group (2002). Oncifelis guigna. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 09 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable
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