The jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) is one of four species of wild cat living in the United States! They are found in Southern Texas, and have even been sighted as far as Florida.
written by admin Lynx sources: [x] [x] [?] [Alena Houšková]
The Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) comes in three main color phases; grey, red, and a greyish brown. These are natural variations within the species - not color mutations/morphs such as leucism, albinism, etc. There is a common misconception that greyish brown individuals are melanistic, but this can be disproven by observing the brown coloration on their face and neck. Interestingly, the red and grey color phases were once believed to be two separate species - red being the eyra cat, and grey being the jaguarundi. Since then, however, this theory has been disproved.
The jaguarundi’s stubby ears don’t seem very catlike, but its haughty expression will be familiar to many a cat owner. This particular jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) was resting on the rain forest floor in the Amazon in 2006.
The IUCN Red List sets them as a species of least concern in Mexico down through Central America into South America. However, in the southern U.S., they are considered endangered.
These small cats can weigh between 10 and 20 lbs (4.5 and 9 kg).
