Editing Ocelot (section)

{{Short description|Small wild cat}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2019}}
{{Speciesbox
| name=Ocelot
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |title=''Leopardus pardalis'' |name-list-style=amp |author1=Paviolo, A. |author2=Crawshaw, P. |author3=Caso, A. |author4=de Oliveira, T. |author5=Lopez-Gonzalez, C.A. |author6=Kelly, M. |author7=De Angelo, C. |author8=Payan, E. |year=2015 |errata=2016 |page=e.T11509A97212355 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T11509A50653476.en |access-date= 17 January 2022}}</ref>
 | status2 = CITES_A1
 | status2_system = CITES
 | status2_ref = <ref name=iucn/>
| image = Ocelot (Jaguatirica) Zoo Itatiba.jpg
| image_caption = An ocelot in a [[zoo]] in [[Brazil]]
| genus = Leopardus
| species = pardalis
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision =
* ''L. p. mitis'' {{small|([[Frédéric Cuvier|Cuvier]], 1820)}}
* ''L. p. pardalis'' {{small|(Linnaeus, 1758)}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=mammal />
| synonyms = {{collapsible list
|''Felis aequatorialis'' {{small|([[Edgar Alexander Mearns|Mearns]], 1903)}}
|''F. albescens'' {{small|([[Jacques Pucheran|Pucheran]], 1855)}}
|''F. armillatus'' {{small|([[Frédéric Cuvier|Cuvier]], 1820)}}
|''F. brasiliensis'' {{small|(Schinz, 1844)}}
|''F. buffoni'' {{small|(Brass, 1911)}}
|''F. canescens'' {{small|(Swainson, 1838)}}
|''F. chati'' {{small|([[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1827)}}
|''F. chibi-gouazou'' {{small|[[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1827)}}
|''F. grifithii'' {{small|([[Johann Baptist Fischer|J. B. Fischer]], 1829)}}
|''F. hamiltonii'' {{small|([[Johann Baptist Fischer|J. B. Fischer]], 1829)}}
|''F. limitis'' {{small|([[Edgar Alexander Mearns|Mearns]], 1902)}}
|''F. ludoviciana'' {{small|(Brass, 1911)}}
|''F. maracaya'' {{small|(Wagner, 1841)}}
|''F. maripensis'' {{small|([[Joel Asaph Allen|Allen]], 1904)}}
|''F. mearnsi'' {{small|(Allen, 1904}}
|''F. melanura'' {{small|([[Robert Ball (naturalist)|Ball]], 1844)}}
|''F. mexicana'' {{small|([[Robert Kerr (writer)|Kerr]], 1792)}}
|''F. mitis'' {{small|([[Frédéric Cuvier|Cuvier]], 1820)}}
|''F. ocelot'' {{small|(Link, 1795)}}
|''F. pardalis'' {{small|([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758)}}
|''F. pseudopardalis'' {{small|([[Pierre Boitard|Boitard]], 1842)}}
|''F. sanctaemartae'' {{small|(Allen, 1904)}}
|''F. smithii'' {{small|(Swainson, 1838)}}
|''Leopardus griseus'' {{small|[[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1842}}
|''L. pictus'' {{small|[[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1842}}
}}
| range_map = Ocelot distribution.jpg
| range_map_caption = Distribution of the ocelot (2016)<ref name=iucn />
}}

The '''ocelot''' ('''''Leopardus pardalis''''') is a medium-sized spotted [[Felidae|wild cat]] that reaches {{cvt|40|–|50|cm}} at the shoulders and weighs between {{cvt|7|and|15.5|kg}} on average. It is native to the [[southwestern United States]], [[Mexico]], [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]], and the [[Caribbean]] islands of [[Trinidad]] and [[Margarita Island|Margarita]]. [[Carl Linnaeus]] [[scientific description|scientifically described]] it in 1758. Two [[subspecies]] are recognized.

The ocelot is efficient at climbing, leaping and swimming. It prefers areas close to water sources with dense vegetation cover and high prey availability. It preys on small terrestrial mammals, such as [[armadillo]]s, [[opossum]]s, and [[lagomorph]]s. It is typically active during [[twilight]] and at night and tends to be solitary and [[Territory (animal)|territorial]]. Both sexes become [[sexual maturity|sexually mature]] at around two years of age and can breed throughout the year; peak mating season varies geographically. After a [[gestation]] period of two to three months, the female gives birth to a [[Litter (zoology)|litter]] of one to three kittens. They stay with their mother for up to two years, after which they leave to establish their own [[home range]]s.

The ocelot is listed as [[Least Concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List]] and is threatened by [[habitat destruction]], [[hunting]], and [[traffic]] accidents. While its range is very large, various populations are decreasing in many parts of its range. The association of the ocelot with humans dates back to the [[Aztec Civilisation|Aztec]] and [[Incan civilization|Incan]] civilizations; it has occasionally been kept as a [[pet]].