A small spotted wild cat of South America who scientists do not know much about, the Geoffroy’s cat mostly inhabits open areas like the Pampas. Often referred to as ‘fishing cats’ by locals, they are very good swimmers (one cat is recorded to have swam across a 30m wide, fast-flowing river). They hunt on the ground as well as in water and fish forms part of their diet.
Fast facts
Scientific name: Leopardus geoffroyi
Distribution: They are found from southern Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay to the south of Argentina
Habitat: The Andes Mountains, Pampas (scrubby forest parts) and Gran Chaco (a hot and semi-arid lowland region of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina)
Prey: Rodents, hares, small lizards, insects and occasionally frogs and fish
Number of kittens in a litter: One to four
Lifespan: 20 years
Weight: 2 to 5kg
Conservation status: Near threatened
