Range:

Southern Texas, parts of Mexico, central America through south America to Argentina.

Habitat:

Dry deciduous forests, dry scrub, seasonally flooded savannas, tropical rain forests.

Characteristics:

Short fur marked with black-rimmed blotches and spots in designs as unique as finger prints. The tail is ringed with black, or has black bars on the upper surface. The ears are rounded with a prominent white spot on the back.

Behavior:

Mostly terrestrial. Sleeping by day and hunting at night. In the morning, these spotted cats return to the treetops to sleep away the day safely camouflaged among the leaves. Ocelots are generally solitary animals.

Reproduction:

After a gestation of 79–82 days, 1 or sometimes 2 kittens are born. When 2 months old, they begin to follow their mother but rely on her for several months later. Young ocelots disperse from their natal range at about 2 years old.