The kodkod is a wild cat found in Chile and some parts of Argentina. It is the smallest felid species in the Americas with the smallest range.
Scientific name: Leopardus guigna
Conservation status: Vulnerable, decreasing population
Subspecies:
- Leopardus guigna guigna (Southern Chile and Argentina)
- Leopardus guigna tigrillo (Central Chile).
Lineage: Ocelot Lineage (Leopardus genus) – eight species of small cats native to the Americas. including the ocelot, oncilla – northern, oncilla southern, pampas cat, margay, Geoffroy’s cat and Andean mouintain cat.
Where the kodkod lives: The kodkod inhabits forests in Central and Southern Chile. There are also some small populations in Argentina
Interesting kodkod Facts
- The smallest wild cat in all of the Americas.
- The smallest range of all the wild cats
- The scientific name Felis guigna was first used in 1782 to describe a kodkod from Chile.
- Kodkods are active during the day and night but will only appear in open areas when it is dark.
- Highly skilled climbers.
- Has a ringed tail
- Lives mostly in southern Andian rainforests and coastal ranges, but has adapted to other habitats
- Considered a bad omen by the Mapuche tribe
More about the kodkod
The kodkod is a small wild cat that inhabits South America. It inhabits forests and shrublands up to around 6,200 ft.
Physical Characteristics
The kodkod has a small head, large feet, and a thick tail. Typical adult length is 37 to 51 centimeters (15 to 20 in), with a short 20 to 25 centimeters (7.9 to 9.8 in) tail and a shoulder height of about 25 centimeters (9.8 in). Weight ranges between 2 to 2.5 kilograms (4.4 to 5.5 lbs.). The cat’s fur ranges from yellow-brown to grey-brown with dark spots. The kodkod’s underside is a light color and its tail has dark rings.
Location and habitat
These cats, known for their adaptability, are typically found in the rainforests of the Andean and Coastal ranges in Chile, especially the Valdivian and Araucaria forests. They live up to the tree line at 6,200 to 8,200 feet. Kodkod can also be found in other types of forested areas but seem to prefer evergreen temperate forests. Vegetation cover is an important survival requirement for the Kodkod. Male kodkod territories are between 1/2 to 1 square mile. Females have smaller ranges.
Valdivian rainforest in southern Chile:
Hunting and prey
Kodkods play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystem. They are active during the day and at night, mainly hunting on the ground. The cats in southern Chile prey on small mammals like rodents, marsupials, rabbits, birds, lizards, and invertebrates.
Reproduction
The female kodkod’s gestation period lasts about 72–78 days. The average litter size is one to three kittens. It is believed that Kodkods live to be about 11 years old.
Population
The current kodkod population is estimated to be less than 10,000 individuals.
Conservation issues
Kodkod populations are reducing, especially in central Chile. They are threatened by domestic dogs and are being hunted by humans. Other serious threats include the destruction of forests and the spread of agriculture.
According to one study, “The kodkod Leopardus guigna, a small felid endemic to the temperate forests of southern Chile and Argentina, has the smallest geographical range of any New World felid… the kodkod has already lost 5.5% of its range as a result of human land use…” – Assessing the distribution of a Vulnerable felid species: threats from human land use and climate change to the kodkod Leopardus guigna | Cuyckens, Morales and Tognelli.
The kodkod in culture
The Araucanian Indians, also known as the Mapuche (indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia), consider the kodkod an omen of bad luck that could bring about famine, disease, or even death.
2013 Values, animal symbolism, and human-animal relationships associated to two threatened felids in Mapuche and Chilean local narratives | Hermann, Schuttler “While pumas played an important role in people’s spirituality, negative mythological connotations persisted in kodkod stories. Four prominent relationships were derived: (1) Both felids represent threats to livestock, pumas, and even to life; (2) both felids are symbols for upcoming negative events; (3) pumas are spiritual creatures, and (4) kodkods are threatened by humans.“
Kodkod research and quotes
2002 Spatial organization, ranging behaviour and habitat use of the kodkod (Oncifelis guigna) in southern Chile | Dunstone, Freer, et al. “Flexibility in resource use and mutual avoidance may explain why kodkod ranges overlap and populations reach high densities locally.”
0 Comments