underparts slightly paler, more black in winter. 

 The red phase shows reddish upper parts inter- 

 mixed with black; head and legs are more brownish 

 while lips and throat are usually white. Fur in 

 both phases is unspotted. Young are paler with no 

 spots. Both phases may appear in the same litter. 

 Photographs are in Goodwyn (1970). 



RANGE 



The United States distribution is restricted to 

 extreme southern Texas and Arizona. Recent 

 reports from Refugio and Hidalgo Counties, 

 Texas, may indicate a possible range extension 

 (Goodwyn 1970, Brownlee 1978). These sight- 

 ings probably represent escaped and/or released 

 captives (R. McBride personal communication). 

 Two subspecies are recorded in the United States: 

 F. y. cacomitli occurs from southern Texas to 

 central Vera Cruz, Mexico, and F. y. tolteca 

 occurs in southern Arizona, south in Mexico 

 along the Pacific coast, and inland to the Mexi- 

 can Plateau. The Mexican Plateau is thought to 

 form a barrier between the two subspecies and 

 may explain the lack of records in New Mexico 

 (Hock 1955). In Central and South America it 

 occurs transcontinentally as a poorly known 

 assemblage of subspecies and closely related 

 species. One was reported seen at Piatt National 

 Park in Oklahoma (USFWS 1973). 



RANGE MAP 



Cross-hatched areas on the following map re- 

 fer to presumed U.S. distribution and dots refer 

 to sightings and/or kills (Brownlee 1978, Good- 

 wyn 1970, R. McBride personal communication). 



STATES/COUNTIES 



Arizona Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz. 



Texas Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Willacy. 



HABITAT 



The jaguarundi inhabits thick, dense, thorny 

 brushlands in the lower Rio Grande Valley (Davis 

 1974). Thickets need not be continuous, but may 

 be interspersed with clear areas, as found in Mexi- 

 co (Goodwryn 1970). In South America and other 

 southern portions of the range, the jaguarundi 

 occurs in high mountain forests (Alston 1882), 

 tropical forests, savannas (Bourliere 1964), and 

 forest swamps (Denis 1964). It seems to prefer 

 areas near water (Goodwyn 1970). The most 

 common plants in the lower Rio Grande Valley 



where the jaguarundi is known to occur are black- 

 bush acacia {Acacia rigidula), chillipiquin (Caosi- 

 cum annum), lotebush [Condalia obstusifolia), 

 Texas persimmon [Diospyrus texana), coyotillo 

 {Karwinskia humboltiana), prairie baccharis [Bac- 

 charis texana), allthorn goatbush {Castela texana), 

 common lantana {Lantana horrida), berlandier 

 wolfberry (Lycium berlandieri), javelinabrush 

 {Microrhamuus ericoides), Texas prickly pear 

 {Opuntia linheimeri), retama [Parkinsonia acule- 

 ata), mesquite {Prosopis glandulosa), cedar elm 

 {Ulmus crassifolia), and lime pricklyash {Zanth- 

 oxylum fagara). From about 1689 to 1885, the 

 lower Rio Grande Valley was covered with dense 

 brush, with a relatively treeless plain to the north 

 (Inglis 1964). The spread of mesquite north into 

 this plain (Peacock 1968) may offer suitable habi- 

 tat for the jaguarundi and a potential for range 

 extension (Goodwyn 1970). 



FOOD AND FORAGING BEHAVIOR 



The jaguarundi stalks its prey and then 

 pounces (Cutter 1957, Goodwyn 1970). It is an 

 excellent tree climber and will forage in trees 

 (Davis 1974). Primarily active at night, it will also 

 forage during the day (Goodwyn 1970, Davis 

 1974). It consumes mostly birds, but will also 

 take small mammals and some fish (Cahalane 

 1947, Ewer 1973, HuUey 1976). Goodwyn 

 (1970) suggests that principal avifauna prey may 

 be a dense-brush subtropical cohort (Wolfe 1956) 

 consisting of Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus), 

 Chachalaca [Ortalis vetula). Green Jay [Cyano- 

 corax yncas). Groove-billed Ani [Crotophaga sulcir- 

 ostris), Kiskadee Flycatcher {Pitangus sulphuratus), 

 Olive-backed Tropical Warbler {Parula pitiayuma). 

 Red-bellied Pigeon [Columba flavirostris). White- 

 fronted Dove {Leptoltila verreauxi), and White- 

 winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica). 



SHELTER REQUIREMENTS 



Dense thickets are used for refugia (Davis 

 1974). 



NESTING OR BEDDING 



Dense thickets, fallen logs, tree hollows, and 

 thick, grassy clumps are used for den sites 

 (Goodwyn 1970, Davis 1974). 



