Physically similar to the northern tiger cat but genetically separate, this species occupies the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina.
Its range sits inside a biome that has lost the large majority of its original cover, so remaining populations are scattered across forest fragments of very different sizes.
Size and measurements
| Head-body length | 16 in – 24 in (40–60 cm) |
|---|---|
| Tail length | 8 in – 17 in (20–42 cm) |
| Shoulder height | 9 in – 12 in (23–30 cm) |
| Body weight | 4–7.7 lb (1.8–3.5 kg) — Slightly heavier on average than the northern species. |
| Top recorded speed | Not reliably measured — Not measured in the field. |
| Lifespan in the wild | 10–13 years |
| Lifespan under human care | 14–17 years |
Habitat and range
Atlantic Forest and adjacent araucaria woodland, including secondary forest and shade plantations that retain canopy cover.
Southern and south-eastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and the Misiones region of north-eastern Argentina.
Diet and hunting
Small rodents and marsupials, birds, lizards and insects.
Hunting strategy — Ground stalk in forest understorey. Takes small prey on the forest floor and in low vegetation, hunting mostly by short stalks.
Behaviour and activity
Solitary. Detected at low densities in most surveys; individuals appear to avoid areas with high ocelot activity.
Nocturnal and crepuscular. Predominantly night active, with activity shifting where larger cats are present.
Climbing and swimming
Climbing — Strong. Climbs readily but forages mainly at ground level.
Swimming — Very limited. No notable association with water.
Conservation status
The Southern Tiger Cat is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a population trend recorded as decreasing in the assessment published in 2016.
Assessed as Vulnerable. Loss and fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest, combined with dog attacks and road mortality in the surrounding farmland, drive the decline.
Documented threats
- Atlantic Forest clearance
- Fragmentation into small isolated patches
- Road mortality
- Domestic dog attacks
- Disease from domestic cats
Look up the current Red List assessment for Leopardus guttulus
Notable traits
- It was described as separate from the northern tiger cat only in 2013, on genetic grounds.
- The two tiger cat species show no evidence of current interbreeding where their ranges approach one another.
- Its stronghold biome has lost the great majority of its original forest cover.
Sources for this profile
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation Dedicated research and field reporting on the lesser-known felids.
- Wildlife Conservation Society Field programmes, camera-trap surveys and population monitoring.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.