Margray

The margay is a small wild cat native to Central and South America. A solitary and nocturnal cat, it lives mainly in primary evergreen and deciduous forest. Until the 1990s, margays were hunted illegally for the wildlife trade, which resulted in a large population decrease. Humans are predators of Margay. Only the Margay and the clouded leopard have the ankle flexibility to enable them to climb down trees head first. Margays are carnivores and eat a wide variety of prey, including both terrestrial and arboreal mammals, birds, birds' eggs, reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, and fruit. The margay is nocturnal, although it has also been observed hunting during the day in some areas. It prefers to spend most of its life in trees, but also travels on the ground, especially when moving between hunting areas. During the day, it rests in relatively inaccessible branches or clumps of lianas.

Conservation status: Near Threatened (Population decreasing)

Trophic level: Carnivorous

Mass: 7.9 lbs

Scientific name: Leopardus wiedii

Length: 2 ft. (Adult)

Gestation period: 82 days

Nickname: the tree ocelot