Margay
Leopardus wiedii

Many cats are excellent climbers, yet none display such acrobatic abilities as the margay. Soft feet, gripping toes and a long tail enable the margay to balance on tightrope twigs and hang by its hind feet. Clearing eight feet in a single leap, the margay is able to rebound off one tree trunk and land on another.

Fact File

Length: 1.5 to 2.3 ft

Weight: 8.5 to 22 lbs

Lifespan: Up to 20 yrs in captivity

Habitat: Forest and scrubland

Diet: Rodents, opossums, monkeys, birds, invertebrates and fruit

Status: Species at Risk (U.S. Endangered Species List—Endangered)