Ocelot

Ocelot, mammal of the cat family found from Texas to Argentina. The ocelot, which somewhat resembles the domestic cat, attains a body length of about 55 to 100 cm (about 22 to 39 in) and a tail length of about 30 to 45 cm (about 12 to 18 in). The back of the animal is tinted light yellow to reddish to gray and is marked with black stripes and spots. The belly is usually white, marked with black. Ocelots are good climbers and hunt in forests at night for their food, which consists of birds, fish, snakes, lizards, and small mammals. One to four kittens are produced in a litter. The animals have been hunted nearly to extinction for their pelts, and conversion of forest to agricultural land has also contributed to the decreased numbers of this species.

Scientific classification: The ocelot belongs to the family Felidae. It is classified as Felis pardalis.