Kodkod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kodkod |
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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: | Leopardus |
| Species: |
L. guigna
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| Binomial name | |
| Leopardus guigna (Molina, 1782)
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| Distribution of the Guigna, 2015 | |
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| Synonyms | |
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The kodkod (Leopardus guigna) is the smallest wild cat found in the Americas. It lives in parts of Chile and Argentina. People sometimes call this tiny cat the güiña. Kodkods are related to other small cats in South America, like the Ocelot and the Margay.
Where Kodkods Live
Kodkods make their homes in the cool, wet temperate rainforests of the southern Andes mountains. They also live in the forests along the coast of Chile. These forests often have lots of bamboo growing low to the ground.
These cats especially like evergreen temperate rainforests. They can also live in forests that have been changed by humans, like areas where trees have grown back or in bushy areas. You might even find them near towns and farms.
Kodkod Behavior
Kodkods are active both during the day and at night. However, they usually only go into open areas when it's dark. During the day, they like to rest in thick plants. They often choose places in deep valleys or along streams where there is a lot of cover.
These cats are amazing climbers. They can easily climb trees that are more than a meter (about 3 feet) wide! Kodkods hunt on the ground for their food. They mostly eat birds, lizards, and small rodents that live in the valleys and forests.
Kodkod Territory
Male kodkods have their own special areas where they live. These areas are usually between 1.1 and 2.5 square kilometers (about 0.4 to 1 square mile) in size. Female kodkods have smaller territories. Their areas are only about 0.5 to 0.7 square kilometers (about 0.2 to 0.3 square miles).
See also
- In Spanish: Gato Huiña para niños
 | Jessica Watkins |
 | Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. |
 | Mae Jemison |
 | Sian Proctor |
 | Guion Bluford |
