A jaguarundi is described as a “cat very similar genetically to the puma” by the Big Cat Rescue organization. Listed as endangered by the U.S. Year after year, reports of large black cats come in from across Alabama. Jaguarundis are active mainly at night, but also move around during the day, often going to water to drink at midday. It is a much smaller cat with a short tail and spotted fur. The jaguar’s smaller cousin, the jaguarundi, was found throughout the jaguar’s former range and may have ranged as far east, along coastal areas, as the Florida Panhandle. Sightings of jaguarundi in either Florida or Alabama are rare, but the cats are likely out there. Jaguarundis are thought to be descended from the … However, if you do think that you see such a creature, try to preserve the tracks by placing a bucket over them and take photographs. One of the smaller New World cat species, they are about twice the size of a small house cat. Jaguarundi can jump as high as 6.5 feet to catch a bird in flight. Posts about jaguarundi written by SWestfall3. Rare sightings reported from southwestern and central Alabama, but there is no evidence of a breeding population in Alabama or adjacent states. It is unknown how long the kittens remain with their mothers. Black Cats of Alabama. The jaguarundi is a small species of wild cat. In 2017, the Cat Classification Taskforce of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group (an authority on the classification of wild cats) assigned the jaguarundi to the genus Herpailurus. The jaguarundi is called the “halari” in Belize. The presence of running water is a big preference. The jaguarundi only reaches about 22 pounds in weight with a total length of 3½ to 4 feet and stands only about 11 inches at the shoulder. We get a couple reports of sightings of Jaguarundi every year along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Native to the Southwest U.S. and Mexico. jaguarundi, or the so-called “black panther” ranging from Texas through Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and up to the Illinois and Ohio area. At approximately six weeks, the kitten will be completely weaned. Jaguarundi distribution per IUCN Red List as at Dec 2014 (latest information available). The reports vary from mere sightings, to pets disappearing and livestock being killed. At about three weeks, the mother will start to bring little pieces of whole food to the young. In the eastern hemisphere, most specifically Asia and Africa, the leopard is the only wild cat that has a black or melanistic phase. ... John Petrey I live in Lower Alabama, specifically Robertsdale, in a rural area. The jaguar’s smaller cousin, the jaguarundi, was found throughout the jaguar’s former range and may have ranged as far east, along coastal areas, as the Florida Panhandle. Alabama classes the animal as an Accidental, and there is no evidence of a breeding population in Alabama or adjacent states. 1995. FEEDING HABITS:  The first one is the black to gray phase. The overall length (head to tip of tail) is approximately 3 to 4 feet. Its current range is similar to the jaguar, but may also be found as far north as southern Texas. Perhaps you have seen one of these animals and just didn't know what it was, or you thought it was simply a large, feral house cat? Females are in estrous for 3-5 days and show their receptivity by regularly rolling onto their back and spraying urine. LIFE HISTORY:  Jaguarundi, (Puma yagouaroundi), small, unspotted New World cat (family Felidae), also known as the otter-cat because of its otterlike appearance and swimming ability. So, the animal is released into the wild. They live 16 to 22 years in captivity. Habitat loss due to human population expansion, the value of its fur in the market place, potential livestock losses and a lack of human understanding of its role in the ecosystem are reasons for its limited range. There are 13 different Jaguarundi sounds apparently: Long whistle: a greeting. Anecdotally, you will hear about sightings of jaguarundi in Florida from time to time. Alabama has two native cats. Its body is slender, its head and ears are small, and its features are flattened. They also have been known to inhabit swamps and other thick forests. Adult body weights normally range from 25 to 30 pounds. Jaguarundis are characterized by slen-der, elongated bodies, small flattened heads, and long tails (11-24 inches) more reminiscent of an otter or weasel than a cat. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, NY. At the end of her gestation, she will give birth to 1-4 deaf and blind kittens that will have lite spots. Rick, J. However, the young will continue to nurse for a few more weeks. Whitaker Jr., J. O. DISTRIBUTION:  Jaguarundi kittens have spotted fur when they are born. The head is small and flat with small, low lying ears that gives the jaguarundi the face of an otter, hence the name otter cat. The female will have a gestation period of up to 70-75 days. The jaguarundi is an oddball among cat species. In this photo is a specimen of the gray phase. My research supports the existence of this unusual cat outside of its normal range; however , I will not include those other areas in my report as I … However, neither of these cats has a black or melanistic color phase. They're not quite the jungle loving cats. The ears are short and rounded. Felis yagouaroundi (also classified as Herpailurus yagouaroundi ) is a weasel-like cat about twice the size of a large housecat. You will then want to contact a representative of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries for further investigation. The population, if it still exists, is scarce within the state. The coat can be either blackish to brownish-grey (grey phase) or foxy red to chestnut (red phase); individuals of both phases can be born in the same litter. This phase is more prevalent in populations that live in the rain forest. It will also jump into the air to catch low flying birds. The jaguarundi is found in southern Texas and Arizona, south through Central America and Mexico into South America. Book Jaguarundi Lodge, Monteverde on Tripadvisor: See 113 traveler reviews, 134 candid photos, and great deals for Jaguarundi Lodge, ranked #2 of 5 specialty lodging in Monteverde and rated 3.5 of 5 … More research needs to go into this matter. Almost all of the reports are proven to be cases of mistaken identity, or possibly animals that have been released or escaped from captivity. Its closest relation is the puma (Puma concolor) and until recently the two species were both placed in the Puma genus.. Other characteris- Its range extends from central Argentina in the south to the US–Mexico border in the north, through Central and South America east of the Andes.The jaguarundi is a medium-sized cat of slender build. The ranges of the males overlapped less tha… Stomach contents show fruits and other plant material as a small part of their diet. At first glance, it looks more like a large weasel. The jaguarundi is found in southern Texas and Arizona, south through Central America and Mexico into South America. The Jaguarundi is a small, slender-bodied, unspotted cat, slightly larger than a domestic cat (7-22 pounds). When overwhelmed by their size, care requirements or the chance of being caught by the U.S. Department Agriculture, the agency responsible for governing exotic animals, some people may begin to look for ways to get rid of them. Accidental. The jaguarundi is one of the smallest wild cats and is only slightly larger than a house cat. HABITAT: This cat inhabits thickets that are nearly impenetrable to man or dogs. They have raised jaguarundi cubs and in doing so have observed at first hand their vocalisations. This bobcat, about 40 pounds, was seen creeping around on an island next to … The greatest human threat to the jaguarundi, though, is not hunting, but habitat loss from deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices (IUCN). The Jaguarundi in Alabama The jaguarundiis larger than a domestic cat and a little smaller than a bobcat. A look at black cats known to exist in other parts of the world may lead us to find out which, if any, black cats are to be found in Alabama. The jaguarundi is native to forested and brushy regions, especially those near water, from South America to the southwestern United HABITAT:  They confirm the sounds made by this interesting wild cat as recorded by Cutter (1957) and Hulley in 1976. By Mitchell Marks, Wildlife Biologist, Retired. high school in east central Alabama. The jaguarundi is a carnivorous animal that hunts in the early morning and late evening hours. These cats are most active in the early morning and evening, and prefer densely vegetated areas. Areas of shrubby, thorny plants like mesquite and cactus are its preferred habitat. The jaguarundi prefers to live and hunt in lower elevation grasslands or thickets near a water source. This species feeds on prey weighing about 1 kg but often catches prey of 2–3 kg. In the western hemisphere, which consists of North and South America, there are two cats that have a black or melanistic phase. Its spotless coat may be gray, black, dark brown, red, tawny yellow, or chestnut. Accessed June 12, 2012 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Puma_yagouaroundi/. 1975. Despite its small size, it is a formidable predator. The jaguarundi is not particularly ecologically or economically significant, due to its thin numbers and reclusive nature (NSRL at TTU). The coat is without spots, uniform in color, with, at most, a few faint markings on the face and underside. After reviewing trapping and hunting records back to the 1600s and reports of vehicle collisions with animals from around the state, we can say with relative assurance that there are no native black cats in Alabama. The jaguarundi has short legs, an elongated body, and a long tail. The jaguar’s smaller cousin, the jaguarundi, was found throughout the jaguar’s former range and may have ranged as far east, along coastal areas, as the Florida Panhandle. Cougars are tawny brown to grayish in color, weighing from 75 to 120 pounds, and can reach a length of about 6½ feet, nose to tail. 601-602. The jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) is the smallest species of the puma lineage. However, it is a native species to this country, although it is quite rare and its official native range is limited to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in southeastern Texas. Perhaps there are some in this sunny state because they were released from a private zoo. None have been confirmed, of course, and if they were discovered in that part of the country, … There have been sightings in Florida which are thought to have been introduced populations as well as a few unconfirmed sightings in southern Alabama. The jaguar is a stocky, powerful cat that normally weighs between 100 and 150 pounds, although some males have been known to reach 9 feet in length and weigh 350 pounds. It stands about 1 to 2 feet tall and ranges from 19 to 30 inches from head to start of tail. Chanticleer Press, Inc. New York, NY. These spots will disappear in a few days. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the jaguarundi as endangered. Territories varied considerably between males and females, measuring 88 – 100 km² for each of two adult males and 13 – 20 km² for an adult female. It is a potential reason of why some people have reported seeing large black cats or “black panthers” in Alabama. 327-328. Once bred, the female will locate a natural den. So, with no native black cats in Alabama, what are people reporting seeing? Like the leopard, human population expansion, the value of its fur in the market place, potential livestock loses and a lack of human understanding of these animal’s roles in the ecosystem have limited its range. Coati: No, but several reported sightings. The spots will have gone when they are 3 months old. The jaguarundi is not widely known in the United States. Unexplained disappearances of large cats have even happened with individuals permitted to posses these animals. Animal Life Encyclopedia. Jaguarundis have been known in the fossil record from Florida, and of course, there are countless sightings of jaguarundis in Florida and in Alabama as well. Its former range included southwestern Louisiana and coastal Texas, Mexico, Central America and South America. The two color phases were once thought to represent two distinct species; the gray one called "jaguarundi," and the red one called "eyra;" but they are now rec… The bobcat is the other native cat found in Alabama. The jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi; / ˌ ʒ æ ɡ w ə ˈ r ʌ n d i /) is a wild cat native to the Americas. January 1975: An adult jaguarundi was captured alive in a Clay County, Alabama farmyard, and was confirmed by James Peavey. The jaguarundi coat comes in several different colors, with the dark fur most often occurring in animals from jungle regions and animals with lighter colored fur being found in drier, more arid regions. For the jaguarundi, tigrina, and Geoffroy’s cat, these recommendations were made because of limited space available, the limited number of founders in these populations, and limited potential for acquiring additional founders. Some field investigations have found distinct tracks and/or bite marks. Jaguarundi: No, … still there have been many unverified sightings of this Central American cat in the area. The jaguar is the largest of these, and probably the most well known. August 1980 : Dr. Holliman observed an adult and two young at a garbage dump just outside Bayou la Batre, Mobile County. The tail ranges from 12 to 24 inches in length. More recently there are reports of this big cat showing up more frequently in the southern US. Color ranges from rusty brown to almost black. Slightly larger than a house cat, the jaguarundi is a wild cat found throughout the Americas. Author:  Ecologically, the jaguarun… It preys upon small rodents like rats, mice, and rabbits. Jaguarundi rarely interact or are even seen by humans, but may be hunted down regionally near settled areas for killing poultry. Jaguarundi is one of the jaguarundi is a big preference largest is the other native cat found Alabama. 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