Ocelots, often known as small leopards, are distinguished by their distinctive spots and patterns. They love to reside in brushy forests. Because they are carnivores, their primary food consists of birds, rodents, and small mammals. Let’s take a look at the ten most incredible facts about ocelots.
1. Their name is derived from an Aztec word
The name ocelot is supposedly derived from the Aztec word “tlalocelot,” which means field tiger. The Aztecs, like many other indigenous societies in the region, venerated this wild cat for its hunting skills and beauty. Ocelots are shown in various art, jewelry, ceramics, and mythology from Central and South American cultures.
2. Female ocelots are known as queens
Except during mating season, female ocelots, somewhat smaller than males, typically live alone. At full maturity, they weigh around 25 pounds and stand approximately 18 inches at the shoulder. Ocelots mate all year but only stay together for a few days. The male, also known as the torn, goes off to cover his territory after mating. The female bears the pregnancy for more than two months before giving birth and raising the kittens independently. These newborns can have sharp teeth at an early age, but it takes many weeks for their eyes to open completely. Typically, they stay with their moms for roughly two years, during which they won’t give birth to another until the first is mature enough to go off.
3. Ocelots have excellent communication skills
Aside from smell exchanges and bodily motions, ocelots may also communicate through sound. Like other wild cats, ocelots have evolved vocal cords that allow them to express a wide range of sounds and vibrations. Male ocelots utilize a range of meows and growl to attract possible mates, especially during mating season. While they can purr, ocelots do not roar like lions or tigers. Each call, cry, or meow and accompanying body language convey a special message. The many forms of noise might imply anything from a display of affection to a predatory backoff call.
4. Ocelots are carnivores
Ocelots, like other cats, are hypercarnivores, which means they eat more than seventy percent of meat. They are mostly active at night for their regular hunting spree. Ocelots have exceptional eyesight, adapted to night vision and hearing, which they utilize to detect prey. Among their favorite foods are reptiles, small rodents, birds, fish, crabs, and medium-sized animals. Most of their prey consists of rats, mice, opossums, and armadillo species. Coupled with other exciting features and adaptations of this night hunter, ocelots have strong teeth for tearing apart prey. However, they have no teeth for chewing. Therefore, they swallow food without chewing, and ocelots have a tongue that can successfully remove even minute portions of meat from bones.
5. Ocelots prefer life in the rainforests
Don’t be deceived by ocelots’ appearance in some places like Arkansas and Texas because these cats are of rainforest origin from Central and South America. The tropical tree-lined canopies seem pleasant to ocelots. They are primarily active at night, hunting and foraging, and don’t mind roaming up to two miles to get food.
6. Each ocelot has a unique coat
One surprising fact is that there are never two ocelots wearing the same coat. Their patches, known as rosettes, are dark brown to black, while the fur below is generally a golden tan or light yellowish-brown. When ocelots are born, their eyes are blue, and they appear dark gray. But their spots and patterns become more apparent and distinctive as they develop. Their tails are similarly adorned with ringed bands that run their length. Unfortunately, ocelots are hunted for the fur trade, substantially reducing their populations in some areas.
7. Ocelots have picky eating habits
Ocelots essentially eat meat. Their enormous jaws, paws, sharp eyesight, and fast-moving ability allow them to hunt a wide range of animals. They mostly hunt rabbits, birds, and rats. Ocelots have been observed removing their victims’ feathers and fur before consuming them. They can lick bones clean after taking off the flesh because they have a tongue with a sandpaper-like covering. If they don’t finish their meal all at once, they’ll hide the remains from other animals so that they can return to them later, or they may carry them up into the tree, away from the reach of any competitor.
8. Peruvians used to worship ocelots
People in the olden days were used to worshipping different objects, such as monumental structures and animals. To this, artwork from Peru shows that ancient people formerly adored and cherished this particular cat. The ocelot was depicted in metalwork and paintings by the Moche people, who were famous craftsmen and artisans. Other creatures adored in their religion include snakes, birds, frogs, and fish. These people also worshipped a half-man, half-jaguar.
9. Ocelots are night hunters
Ocelots perform the majority of their foraging and hunting activities at night. They selectively look for safe, protected spots during the day while they wait patiently for the night. They also seek refuge when it’s time to raise their young. Due to their territorial behavior, they monitor and patrol a territory during the day to prepare for hunting later as night falls. They mostly sleep and take cover in dense forest regions such as shrubby bushes, tree branches, and safe caves, where they may hide and conceal themselves in camouflage. More interestingly, they have great eyesight and hearing abilities, which allow them to detect food and trust smell trails left by other animals.
10. Ocelots are short-lived
One not-so-cool fact about these animals is their short life. Ocelots generally have a wild life span of about 8 to 12 years. Nevertheless, like many other wild animals, they live longer in captivity. They may survive up to twenty years if properly cared for in captivity.
