Cousin to a house cat, the jaguarundi roams rainforests in Central and South America, where it ranks as a top predator. Sharp teeth, powerful jaws, retractable claws and even an extra-rough tongue are all tools when this beast is on the hunt. It fears neither heights nor depths, as it regularly climbs to the tops of trees and even jumps into water to capture some of its victims. Acute hearing helps the jaguarundi detect prey, and a small but muscular frame lets it navigate through vegetation to make the kill.
Find a Shortcut: With a lean body and short legs, the jaguarundi's build is ideal for scampering through thick brush on the ground. Extra flaps on its ears help the predator hear prey; it then cuts through the brush to find the meal.
Roughing It: This cat kills prey with its sharp teeth and strong jaws, but sometimes needs an extra tool with which to eat its prey. The cat's tongue is covered with rough bumps, called papillae, which help scrape meat from bone.
All Purpose Cat[]
The cat balances on a branch, waiting to pounce.
The jaguarundi isn't picky about its food-it will eat pretty much anything it can get its claws on. The cat's diet consists mostly of small mammals (which it will chase for more than half a mile), reptiles and insects. This predator isn't limited to what it finds on the ground. Sharp, retractable claws allow the jaguarundi to climb trees, where it ambushes birds, steals eggs and even watches for prey on the ground on which it can pounce. In addition, this cat can hunt around water. It's a good swimmer, and won't hesitate to jump into a lake or river to snatch a big fish.
Home Security: Unlike many wild cats, this creature is active mostly during the day. The jaguarundi values its privacy while resting at night, usually finding a hollow log, cave or other enclosed space in which to sleep.
From the Old World: Though it looks similar to a weasel or a fossa-and is related to the house cat-the jaguarundi's closest cousin is the puma. Their common ancestor crossed an ancient land bridge between Alaska and Russia to reach the Americas about 20,000 years ago.
Lizard & Eggs-Yummy[]
- An hour or so after the sun rises, a jaguarundi wakes and carefully slides out of the hollow log in which it slept during the night.
- The creature notices some unattended eggs in a nearby tree, so it quickly climbs up with the aid of its sharp, retractable claws and devours them in seconds.
- Then, the jaguarundi spots a tegu on the ground. The cat leaps from the tree, landing just inches from the lizard, and makes the kill with a lightning-fast pounce.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The name jaguarundi comes from the Guarani language, and means “dark jaguar”.
- The card's back illustration is also used in the Wildlife Explorer series, for the Jaguarundi's profile. The main difference is the Jaguarundi in the Wildlife Explorer version does not have its mouth open, and there's terrain underneath it.
- The multi-paneled illustration on the back, "Lizards & Eggs- Yummy" is also used in the Wildlife Explorer card. Here, the illustrations are titled "Balanced Diet", and an additional panel after the cat eats the eggs feature it grabbing a Green Acouchi (a small rodent) by the neck.
- Lastly, the photograph of the jaguarundi on a tree branch is also shared, albeit flipped.
- The jaguarundi is mentioned on the Black Panthers knowledge card as another species which can develop melanism.
- The jaguarundi is featured in It's All Relative! on Monster Mania 98.