Defenders Magazine
Get Defenders Headlines
Get the latest wildlife conservation news and information... right when we post it online.
Defenders Magazine
Species Spotlight: Jaguarundi
With its short legs, elongated body, round ears and small, flattened head, it's easy to see how this dark feline could be mistaken for an otter or a weasel at first glance. In fact, when the jaguarundi was first identified in 1803, it was dubbed "weasel cat."
Despite their housecat-sized frames, recent genetic studies show that jaguarundis, which historically ranged from southern Brazil north into South Texas, are genetically more closely related to cougars than any of their other cat cousins. They prowl lowland thornbush for small mammals, reptiles and birds. But jaguarundis are comfortable in trees and can also swim.
It's unlikely you will see jaguarundis on this side of the Mexican border, even though, unlike many other cats, they are active during the day. The last confirmed U.S. sighting was in 1986, when one was hit by a car near Brownsville, Texas.
But scientists believe a handful of these furtive felines could still roam South Texas, trying to hang on in the face of human development—their primary threat. If it's true, land conservation and a fenceless border with Mexico are essential to their future. If we can ensure this, we just might keep these endangered cats from fleeing to thornier pastures—or be lucky enough to lure them back to ours.
