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The Ocelot is a wild feline

Ocelot
Ocelot (Jaguatirica) Zoo Itatiba
General information
Classification Leopardus pardalis
Intelligence Non-sapient
Biological information
Feeding behavior Carnivorous
Lineage information
Cultural information
Sociocultral characteristics
Scientific taxonomy
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Superclass Tetrapoda
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Suborder Feliformia
Family Felidae
Genus Leopardus
Species L. paradalis
Other information
Status Least Concern (population decreasing)

Etymology[]

The name "ocelot" comes from the Nahuatlword ōcēlōtl (pronounced [oːˈseːloːt͡ɬ]), which generally refers to the jaguar rather than the ocelot. Another possible origin for the name is the Latin ocellatus ("having little eyes" or "marked with eye-like spots"), in reference to the cat's spotted coat.

Other vernacular names for the ocelot include cunagaro (Venezuela), gato onza (Argentina), gato tigre (Panama), heitigrikati (Suriname), jaguatirica (Brazil), manigordo (Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela), maracaja (Brazil), mathuntori, ocelote, onsa, pumillo, tiger cat(Belize), tigrecillo (Bolivia) and tigrillo(Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru).

Like most animals in Minecraft, the term ‘Ocelot’ was taken from the original etymology and reciprocated in-game.


Characteristics[]

The ocelot's fur is extensively marked with solid black markings on a creamy, tawny, yellowish, reddish gray or gray background color. The spots on the head and limbs are small, but markings on the back, cheeks and flanks are open or closed bands and stripes. A few dark stripes run straight from the back of the neck up to the tip of the tail. Its neck and undersides are white, the insides of the legs are marked with a few horizontal streaks. Its round ears are marked with a bright white spot. Adult, sexually mature Ocelots are 60 by 70 cm, making them average sized, thin and quick animals. Baby Ocelots tend to be 0.35 by 0.3 cm, making them around half the size of their adult counterparts.

Ocelots have 28 to 30 teeth, with the dental formula 3.1.2–3.13.1.

Distribution and Habitat[]

Ocelots are only found in jungles, up to an elevation of around 10 metres due to their habit of climbing trees. A late 2019 study in the Southern Jungle Biome showed that it prefers habitats with good availability of prey and water, and tends to avoid other predators.  It favors areas with dense forest cover and water sources, far from roads and human settlement, avoiding steep slopes and highly elevated areas due to lack of prey. Ocelots will also occasionally enter villages, due to a fair amount of chickens and prey there, but will shy away from villagers. Ocelots co-exist with Pandas, Parrots and Chickens, the latter of whom are their primary target for prey, and will tend to avoid any other mob, sometimes this range will include other Ocelots themselves.

Behaviour[]

Usually, Ocelots will be seen prowling around the jungle, in search of either chickens or baby turtles to feed on. Ocelots don’t appear to be efficient climbers or swimmers, and prefer to stay within bushes or in open grass. In times of heat, Ocelots tend to find the cool areas within the more particularly bushy ones. Ocelots will shy away from human beings once approached, unless the human uses a sneak effect and approaches the Ocelot slowly, showing the Ocelot it’s submission.

Diet

Ocelots two main sources of food are Baby Turtles and Chickens.  Ocelots have been observed to follow scent trails to acquire prey. They walk slowly at a speed of about 0.3 km/h (0.2 mph) searching for prey. Alternatively, an ocelot may wait for prey for 30 to 60 minutes at a certain site, and move to another walking at 0.8–1.4 km/h (0.5–0.9 mph) if unsuccessful. An ocelot typically prefers hunting in areas with vegetation cover, avoiding open areas, especially on moonlit nights, so as not to be seen by the prey. Ocelots will generally use their paws to either strangle, break or bleed out a victim, tending to kill it first before consumption.  

Reproduction

Both male and female ocelots produce a long-range "yowl" in the mating season as well as a short-range "meow". Ocelots can mate any time during the year. A study in southern towns showed that sperm production in ocelots peaks in summer. Captive ocelots spend more time together when mating; both scent-mark extensively and eat less during this time. Breeding ocelots in captivity is often difficult.

Life Cycle[]

Ocelots will live with the parent Ocelot, the one that gave birth, for the first few years of it’s life. Usually, Ocelot’s have two or more cubs. After an Ocelot is sexually mature, the parent will leave the Ocelot. Ocelot’s tend to either depart with their siblings, but some stick together and perform acts of incest, which is largely considered a survival trait they are forced to possess due to their ever-decreasing population. The next period after infancy in an Ocelot’s lifespan will involve a sexual-pubic period, in which they tend to mate with as many Ocelot’s as they can - up to 4 or 5 times before they meet sexual satisfaction. Under likely consequences, Ocelot’s will take care of 3 or more sired Ocelot cubs, and will enter a period of parenthood where the Ocelot will typically adapt to new hit wing techniques for survival. Post-parenthood, Ocelots spend the last few years of their lives continuing to hunt, drink or fulfill any previously dissatisfied sexual appetites.

Bibliography[]

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