appearance to the Ocelot The margay can be found in Mexico down
through Peru, parts of Paraguay to the northern areas of Argentina.
The margay lives in forested areas completely at home in the branches,
it has specially adapted claws and ankle joints which can move through
180 degrees, enabling it to move with almost monkey like ease amongst the
tree tops. Its agility is demonstrated by the apparent ease at which the
cat can scamper down the trunks of trees head first and run upside down
beneath branches.
The margay hunts by night and its prey includes birds, small monkeys,
tree frogs and insects although it will also take prey from the ground
and has been know to supplement its diet with fruit.
Little is known of this small cat but the hunting for its fur has led
the Margay to be threatened in many areas of its habitat. In the north
of its range it is now almost extinct and it is listed in CITES Appendix 1
as an endangered species.
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