Ocelot

= ﻿ Ocelot ﻿ =

SaveCancel //http://www.felidaefund.org/images_admin/ocelot02-wlpr.jpg//

Scientific Classification Kindom- Animalia Phylum- Chordata Class- Mammalia Order- Carnivora Family- Felidae Genus- Leopardus Species- //Leopardus pardalis//

Ocelot Family- Felidae The ocelot is in the family of Felidae or the cat family. All cats have lithe and flexible bodies. Also, did you know that every cat has retractable claws? Cats will retract their claws when they are relaxed, but when it contracts it's muscles, the claws will become visible. Cats have very good night vision, too. In the eye, there is a tapetum lucidum. Tapetum lucidum is the part of the eye that helps reflect light to make it easier for the cat to see in the dark. Finally, cats have very large external ears. Since the ears are large, they are sensitive to high-frequency sounds.This allows ocelots to easily find their prey as they hunt. Some examples of animals that are in the Felidae family include tigers, leopards, domestic cats, and cheetahs.



Bengal Tiger

Cheetah

Ocelot Facts **__Movement-__** The ocelot walks on its four strong legs. They can reach speeds up to thirty-eight miles per hour. It is also known for ocelots to climb up in trees. The ocelot will usually sleep in trees so no predators can reach them.
 * __Metabolism-__** Ocelots get their food by using their sharp claws to catch small mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and rodents. Once they catch their meal; the ocelot will use its sharp teeth to chew the animal. All ocelots are carnivors, which means they only eat meat.

__**Growth and Development-**__ It takes about 600 days for an ocelot to fully mature into an adult. Once it is full size the head and body will measure between 550-1000 millimeters. The tail will grow between 300-450 millimeters.

__**Adaptations-**__ An ocelot is a nocturnal animal. Nocturnal animals are animals that are awake and feed during the night, but they are asleep during the day. Next, the ocelot hunts in dense brush or in heavy cover. This allows it to hide from its prey while it hunts. Also, the coat of the ocelot has blackspots all over it. This helps it hide in the brush as it hunts. Finally, ocelots sleep in trees. This protects it from getting eaten by any predators while it sleeps.

__**Reproduction-**__ The ocelot can have between one to four babies at one time. These young ocelots are known as cubs. Before the baby is born, it will have had gestated inside the mother for about 77 days.

__**Males or Females-**__ The main way to tell the difference between male of female is the size of the animal. The male ocelot is larger than the female.

__**Endangered-**__ The ocelot is an endangered species. They were listed as endangered on March 28,1972.



Sources: orchard.sbschools.net/library/tasks/2ndgrade/.../Kelsie.pdf [] [] [] []

By Matt Steelman