Mammal

margay Facts

Leopardus wiedii

MammalCarnivore

The margay (Leopardus wiedii) is a small wild cat native to Mexico, Central and South America. A solitary and nocturnal felid, it lives mainly in primary evergreen and deciduous forest.

Diet: Dietary studies (based on stomach-content and fecal analyses) have shown that the margay feeds on small primates (such as marmosets, tamarins, squirrel and titi monkeys), numerous birds and lizards (and their eggs and young), small snakes, tree frogs and arthropods.
Lifespan: Up to 24 years (maximum recorded longevity)

margay Facts at a Glance

The margay (Leopardus wiedii) is a small wild cat native to Mexico, Central and South America. A solitary and nocturnal felid, it lives mainly in primary evergreen and deciduous forest.

It belongs to the family Felidae in the order Carnivora. This profile is designed as a concise starting point; the source names below document the review basis.

What Do margays Eat?

margays have a carnivore diet that includes Dietary studies (based on stomach-content and fecal analyses) have shown that the margay feeds on small primates (such as marmosets, tamarins, squirrel and titi monkeys), numerous birds and lizards (and their eggs and young), small snakes, tree frogs and arthropods.. The food available in their environment shapes how they find, hunt, forage for, or receive meals.

margay Conservation Status

margay is listed here as Near Threatened. Protecting habitat, maintaining healthy prey or food sources, and reducing human pressure are important parts of conserving wild populations.

Quick facts

Diet: Carnivore
Lifespan: Up to 24 years (maximum recorded longevity)
Weight: 3,249.97 g

Fun facts

It also utilizes its long tail to maintain balance while climbing.
Morphological adaptation such as these is a strong indication that the margay is well equipped to thrive in ecosystems such as rainforests in which vegetation provides the wild with protection from possible threats.
The margay is a skillful climber, and colloquially it is sometimes called the tree ocelot because of this ability.