These adorable ocelots

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), also known as the pygmy leopard, lives in South and Central America and Mexico, but it has also been seen in Texas and in Trinidad. Outwardly, the ocelot looks like a domestic cat. In color, its coat resembles the skin of a leopard or jaguar, and it was once considered especially valuable. As a result, hundreds of thousands of ocelots were killed because of their skins.

From 1972 to 1996, this cat was on the list of animal species on the verge of extinction, but in the list of the Red Book of 2008, its status was changed to a "low-risk zone". Below you will find 30 amazing photos of this beautiful animal, as well as some interesting facts.

1. The Latin name of the ocelot is Leopardus pardalis. This cat lives in South and Central America. All cats of this genus are spotted, flexible and small. Ocelot — the largest of them. (FLASHFLOOD STUDIOS)

2. The length of the ocelot varies from 68 to 100 cm, the length of the tail is 26-45 cm. Weight — 8-18 kg. (ANNE-MARIE KALUS)

3. Ocelot — the largest representative of the genus Leopardus. (BRIENNE EARNST)

4. The ocelot has a smooth coat, rounded ears and relatively large front paws. (Reddit)

5. Ocelot is basically a nocturnal animal and likes to defend its territory. (WAYNE DUMBLETON)

6. He will fight fiercely, perhaps even to the death, for his territory. (JIM NICHOLSON)

7. In addition, the ocelot carefully marks its territory with urine. (DAVID RIVERA)

8. Like most cats, ocelots are loners. They meet only for mating. (Hotel Lyric)

9. During the day, these cats sleep in trees or in dense foliage and can sometimes share their "bed" with an individual of the same sex. (E_MONK)

10. Males occupy an area from 3.5 to 40 km2, and females occupy smaller territories of 0.8—15 km2, which do not intersect with the territories of males. (TOM SMYLIE, US Fish & Wildlife Service)

11. Ocelots hunt on the territory of 18 km2, mainly on small mammals (various rodents), reptiles and amphibians (lizards, turtles and frogs), crabs, birds and fish. (LOOPY PHOTOS)

12. Ocelots hunt smaller prey — rodents, rabbits and possums make up the main dishes on their menu. (FLOR DE LA AMAZONIA)

13. Compared to other small cats, ocelot cubs grow very slowly. (TIM CHEESMAN)

14. At birth, the cubs weigh about 250 g, and the eyes open only after 15-18 days. (GLENN SHOEMAKE)

15. They begin to leave the lair at three months, but stay with their mother until they are two years old, and then go to look for their own territory. (PAUL FERNANDEZ)

16. Ocelots live up to 20 years in captivity. (E_MONK)

17. Like many wild cats, ocelots often act as pets. (FILIPPO PHOTOS)

18. Salvador Dali often traveled with his pet ocelot Babou, he even took him on board a luxury airliner "SS France". (DANLEO)

19. Musician Graham Parsons kept an ocelot in the backyard of his Florida home in the mid-60s. (ANNE-MARIE KALUS)

20. The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped these animals and often depicted them in their art. (B. TSE)

21. The Salvadoran department of Usulutan owes its name to Ocelot. Translated from Nahuatl, it means "city of ocelots". (NATUREPUNK)

22. Ocelot skin has been a popular commodity for a long time. For example, in 1969, over 133 thousand ocelot skins were imported to the USA. In the 1980s, ocelot fur coats were sold for $40,000, and a live ocelot, as a pet, was sold for $800. (JANIS SMITH)

23. Due to the intense hunting for him, the ocelot has become an extremely rare animal in our time. Thanks to new interstate agreements, ocelot hunting, as well as the sale of any products made from ocelots, are prohibited. (*KLELIA)

24. (MARIKA BELL)

25. (Canislupuscorax)

26. (MidnightGiraffe)

27. (RORY O’BRYEN)

28. (CJCHMIEL)

29. (AmurLeopard)

30. (JIM COX PHOTOGRAPHY)