Gulf Coast jaguarundi facts for kids
The Gulf Coast jaguarundi is a type of wild cat found along the Gulf Coast. It's a smaller cousin of the jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi). Sadly, this special cat, along with the Sinaloan jaguarundi, has been on the endangered list since June 14, 1976. This means there aren't many left, and they need our help to survive. Jaguarundis are part of the cat family, known as Felidae, and are considered small cats.
Quick facts for kids Gulf Coast jaguarundi |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Feliformia |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Felinae |
| Genus: | Herpailurus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
H. y. cacomitli
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| Trinomial name | |
| Herpailurus yagouaroundi cacomitli (Berlandier, 1859)
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| Synonyms | |
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Contents
What Does a Jaguarundi Look Like?
This unique cat is bigger than your average house cat. But it's smaller than a cougar. People often say it looks like a weasel or an otter.
Its fur can be dark brown or grayish. This helps it blend in with its home in forests and thick bushes. It looks like an otter because of its short legs and long, flat tail. Its small, flat head, short round ears, and long, thin body make it look like a weasel.
A jaguarundi's body can grow up to 77 centimeters (about 30 inches) long. Its tail can add another 60 centimeters (about 24 inches). On average, these cats weigh about 6 kilograms (around 13 pounds).
Where Do Jaguarundis Live?
The Gulf Coast jaguarundi lives in southern Texas in the United States. Its home also stretches south into Veracruz and San Luis Potosí in eastern Mexico.
These cats can have coats in different colors. They might be black, reddish-brown, or brownish-gray. Darker cats often live in darker places like forests. Lighter colored cats prefer more open areas.
They like places with thick, thorny bushes, especially near water. Some plants they like include Spiny Hackberry, Brazilian Bluewood, and Texas Persimmon.
Losing their homes is a big problem for jaguarundis. Not enough is known about these cats. Many people don't even know they exist. This makes it harder to protect them from disappearing.
How Did Jaguarundis Evolve?
The jaguarundi is closely related to the cougar. This might seem surprising since the jaguarundi is only about 10% the size of a cougar! They share similar genes and chromosome numbers. Both species have 38 chromosomes, like jaguars. Smaller cats usually have 26 chromosomes.
Jaguarundis and cougars are sometimes grouped under the genus Puma. But jaguarundis are also sometimes placed in their own genus, Herpailurus. Scientists believe an ancestor of the puma family came to the Americas about 8 to 8.5 million years ago. This is how today's jaguarundis and cougars came to live here.
Studies also show that the closest relative to both the jaguarundi and cougar is the modern cheetah. The exact link between cheetahs and jaguarundis is still being studied. One idea is that cheetah ancestors split from the puma family in the Americas. Then they moved back to Asia and Africa. Another idea is that cheetahs developed in Asia and Africa.
Some scientists think jaguarundis became smaller over time. This might have happened because an isolated group of cougars started hunting smaller prey. This helped them avoid competing with bigger hunters like jaguars and lions. This focus on smaller prey may have led to the smaller jaguarundi we see today.
Jaguarundi Life and Habits
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Jaguarundis are thought to mate in November and December. A female jaguarundi is pregnant for about 70 to 75 days. She will usually have 1 to 4 kittens. Each kitten weighs about 4 to 7 kilograms (9 to 15 pounds) at birth.
Like cougar kittens, young jaguarundis have spots on their fur. These spots disappear around 3 or 4 months of age. When they are about 6 weeks old, the kittens start eating solid foods, often small rodents. Soon after, they leave their mothers. They become adults and can have their own kittens in 2 to 3 years.
In zoos, jaguarundis can live a long time, from 16 to 22 years. In the wild, they usually live about 10 to 15 years. This is partly because they have safe dens to protect them.
What Do Jaguarundis Eat?
Jaguarundis are carnivores, meaning they eat meat. They mostly hunt small animals. Their diet includes small mammals, birds, frogs, and fish. These cats might eat a wide variety of animals because food can sometimes be hard to find.
What Threats Do Jaguarundis Face?
The Gulf Coast jaguarundi faces serious threats. Environmentalists are worried about a proposed 16-foot wall along parts of the Mexico–United States border. This wall could greatly harm jaguarundis and other animals in South Texas. Even now, the existing border fence has destroyed much of their habitat. It also splits up groups of cats and stops them from moving freely.
Losing their habitat is the biggest danger for jaguarundis.
How Are We Helping Jaguarundis?
The Gulf Coast jaguarundi is an endangered species. This means special groups are working to protect them. The Fish and Wildlife Service, a U.S. government agency, is trying to help. They manage fish, wildlife, and natural places.
They have suggested ways to help jaguarundi populations grow again. Some ideas include:
- Finding and connecting areas of good habitat. This helps the cats move around and find mates.
- Developing better ways to study them. This helps scientists understand how many there are and what they need.
- Working with other groups to promote jaguarundi protection.
To help with habitat loss, the Fish and Wildlife Service is planting shrubs and plants. These are the kinds of plants jaguarundis like in their natural home in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
See also
In Spanish: Jaguarundí de la Costa del Golfo para niños
