Pampas cat

The Pampas cat, also known as the Pantanal cat or colocolo, is a small wild feline native to South America. It is currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, primarily due to habitat loss and degradation. While it was initially thought to constitute three separate species based on fur color and skull measurements, further studies have consolidated it into a single species with seven recognized subspecies. However, recent genetic research suggests that there may actually be five distinct species within what is collectively referred to as the Pampas cat complex.

Slightly larger than a typical house cat, the Pampas cat varies in size and fur patterns depending on its habitat. Its range encompasses most of Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Ecuador, and possibly Colombia. These cats are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of environments, including grasslands, shrublands, and dry forests, at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 5,000 meters.

Little is known about the Pampas cat's behavior, but it is believed to primarily hunt small mammals and birds. Its diet likely includes prey such as guinea pigs, viscachas, rodents, and tinamous. Regarding reproduction, the Pampas cat typically has small litters of one to three kittens and an average lifespan of around nine years.