South American wild cats include both big cats (the cougar and jaguar) and small wild cats – the jaguarundi, margay, oncilla – northern tiger cat, southern tiger cat, ocelot, Pampas cat, Kodkod, Geoffroy’s cat and Andean cat. The wild cats of South American can be found in many different habitats, such as grasslands, rainforests and mountains.
More About South America
South America, the fourth largest continent in the world, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (east), Pacific Ocean (west) and the Caribbean Sea.
There are 14 South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. The largest country is Brazil. One of the driest places on earth is Chile’s Atacama Desert.
The country’s geography is dominated by the Amazon River and Andes Mountains. Other important geographical features include the Amazon rainforest, Brazilian highlands, Pampas plain, Guiana highlands, Pantanal wetlands and Patagonia.
Both North and South America were named after Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer.
South America Wild Cats
Jaguar (Panthera onca) – South American jaguars are heavier than jaguars living in other regions. Like other jaguars, they are bigger than a cougar. The jaguars north of the Amazon river are different than jaguars south of the river. Their prey in South America includes the green anaconda (large snakes), capybara (largest living rodent in the world) and peccary (a pig-like animal).
Cougar (Puma) – also called mountain lions and many other names. Can be found throughout South America, excluding countries in the Caribbean. It has been estimated that 40% of their habitat has been destroyed or is threatened with destruction.
Big Cats of South America
Cougar
Puma concolor
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Also called the puma, mountain lion, Florida panther, red tiger and catamount. Over 30 subspecies of cougar have been documented. Two subspecies have been recognized. Cougars are lean and agile wild cats. Male cougars are around 7 feet long and vary in weight from around 120 to over 200 lbs. depending on their location.
Cougars can be found throughout North, Central and South America. They are a mostly solitary wild cat.
Cougar subspecies:
- North America cougar (P. concolor couguar)
- North America cougar (P. concolor concolor)
Jaguar
Panthera onca
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Jaguars roam throughout Central and South America in forests located near rivers and lakes. Sometimes they are seen in the Southwestern United States. They are very similar in appearance to leopards, but generally larger.
Jaguars are one of the four big cats that roar. At one time it was believed there were several subspecies of jaguar. More recent research has concluded there are no subspecies.
Jaguars are the biggest wild cat in the Americas and the third largest wild cat in the world.
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