The Ocelot (Leoparduspardalis) is an often-seen, spotted, midsized cat, weighing up to 11 kg. It can be mistaken for a jaguar at a distance, but its heavy body and relatively short tail in comparison to the body length helps to distinguish this cat from others.
It is the largest of the small spotted cats and its coloration varies with its habitat. The under parts are tawny yellow with black spots and lines in longitudinal rows and the fur is short, smooth and stiff. The pattern on the neck has heavy black stripes and the fur is ‘reversed’ here and slants forward. The facial patterns are distinct enough that they can be used to identify individuals.
Ocelots can be found from southeastern US to
