“Jaguarund” The most unusual of cat species in the New World

Are you a fan of everything feline? Here we’re going to discuss one of the most interesting cats that have wide home ranges spanning North, Central, and South America.

Jaguarundis (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) are an interesting species of the Felidae family with a flattened head, short legs, and a burly long tail.

A Jaguarundi has a short fur coat that can have a grey morph or a red morph.

Their habitat generally revolves around lowlands, areas of dense vegetation, primary and secondary forests, deserts, and even thorn scrubs.

Though Jaguarundis enjoy being on the ground, they are also really good climbers as well as swimmers.

One distinct feature of Jaguarundis is their variety of 13 vocalized calls, which helps them communicate.

Though mostly a solitary animal, jaguarundis do come together to mate and have one to four cute kittens.

Jaguarundis are currently listed as of ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List. However, they have likely gone extinct in Texas.

Interestingly, the Jaguarundi population is found in some parts of Florida. It is believed that they grew from an escaped pet group.

When you first see Jaguarundis, they will look like oversized kittens. However, these smart cats know their way around the South American forests.

The distinctive feature of a jaguarundi is its small flattened head which is weasel-like, complimented with rounded ears.

They have a slender body, and their limbs are shorter compared to the size of the body. The long and fluffy tail of a jaguarundi will definitely make you want to touch it.

There are two color variations found in the species. One is a dark-grey that almost looks black, and the other one is red, which may at times look brown.

Some think that is due to the formation of two distinct breeds. Jaguarundis lack any spotting on their body, but the underbelly is slightly lighter than the rest of their coat.