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Geoffroy's Cat
Leopardus geoffroyi
J. Reppucci
Description
The Geoffroy’s cat is included in the genus Leopardus. There is no genetic evidence of different subspecies recorded.
The Geoffroy’s cat is a relatively small cat, about the size of a large house cat. Its coat colour and size vary. Individuals from the eastern part of its distribution (Brazil, Uruguay and East Argentina) seem to be the larger than those from the Northwest (Bolivia and Northwest Argentina). The fur ranges from grey to tawny with small regular spots which tend to form bands on the limbs, and its belly is white. The two dark teardrop streaks on the cheeks, the small triangular dark under eye patches, as well as the absence of rosettes, are particular markings of the Geoffroy’s cat. The crown and neck are marked with several dark longitudinal lines and the back of the ears are black with a central white spot. The Geoffroy’s cat’s tail is shorter than that of other small cat species and its head is slightly flattened. Melanistic forms appear to be fairly common and are most often recorded in forested or wetland areas. The factors determining the fur colouration of the Geoffroy’s cat (painted or melanistic) are unknown, although humidity has been suggested as a potentially important factor.
Hybridisation between the Geoffroy’s cat and the Southern tiger cat (Leopardus guttulus) takes place in a zone in southern Brazil where the ranges of both species overlap.
Weight
3 - 6 kg
Body Length
43 - 88 cm
Tail Length
23 -40 cm
Longevity
upto 14 years
Litter Size
1 - 3 kittens
P. Meier
Status and Distribution
The Geoffroy's cat is classified as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. It seems to be the most abundant felid of the temperate Neotropics. It is widespread and abundant over most of its range and its distribution seems to be continuous. In parts of its range, the Geoffroy's cat appears to have benefitted from the conversion of sub-tropical forests into croplands.
In Chile, it was formerly believed to be restricted to a small area in the South (Strait of Magellan), but recent records identify the presence of Geoffroy’s cat also in the province of Palena in the Los Lagos region (Comau Fjord). In Brazil there are a few records of the Geoffroy’s cat in Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul, but mostly in the state Rio Grande do Sul, where the Geoffroy's cat is considered to be Vulnerable. In Uruguay, the Geoffroy’s cat is the most abundant feline in the country, with records in all departments and even in the suburban areas of Montevideo, the capital city.
According to Cuyckens et al. (2016) the estimated Extent of Occurrence for the Geoffroy’s cat is 3,180,664 km2, but with the potential for a 70% larger Area of Occurrence due to areas with high suitability outside the species current range. Additionally, due to recent records of the Geoffroy’s cat in suitable areas outside their current known range, it appears the Geoffroy’s cat may be expanding its range by taking advantage of anthropogenic landscape modification. Furthermore, predictive models indicate that climate change will only decrease the area of climatically suitable habitat by 2.2% for the Geoffroy’s cat, by the year 2050. This is significantly less of a decrease than for other small felids studied, further indicating the Geoffroy’s cat’s robust and tolerant nature. Its density varies depending on the region.
The Geoffroy’s cat occurs in the Andes of southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and southern Chile. It has been recorded up to an elevation of 3,800 m in the Bolivian Andes.
Habitat
Geoffroy’s cat can occur in a high variety of habitats, with a preference for areas with dense vegetation, native forest and far from roads. The Geoffroy’s cat does not inhabit rainforests. It can be found in pampas grasslands, marsh grasslands, broad-leafed forest, dry shrublands and forests, arid and shrubby woodlands, wetlands and riparian forests, coastal areas, savannas of the Chaco, Patagonian shrub, Monte desert, semi-desert and arid steppe uplands in both pristine and disturbed areas. In forested areas however, the Geoffroy’s cat is likely to be less abundant, due to being outcompeted in these areas by the more arboreal margay. The Geoffroy’s cat can even occur in highly degraded human-dominated landscapes, provided some shrublands are available, however their survival rate is significantly higher in natural habitats. Research suggests that disturbed areas may give rise to a greater availability of prey species, as well as a refuge from interspecific competition.
Habitat suitability is higher for the Geoffroy’s cat in areas where annual precipitation exceeds 151 mm, and drought years can have significant negative impacts on both the ecology and demography of the species.
P. Meier
Ecology and Behaviour
The Geoffroy’s cat is solitary, and spends most of its time on the ground, despite also being able to climb well. During the day it likes to rest in thickets or in hollow trees.
Geoffroy’s cats are mostly nocturnal-crepuscular, but not exclusively so. Activity patterns may differ according to region. In the Yungas foothills, the Geoffroy’s cat was recorded 55% of the time at night, 36% at twilight, and 9% in broad daylight. They also note that the species activity may vary in accordance with lunar phases. In southern Brazil the Geoffroy’s cat activity peaks between 21:00–22:00 h in the Autumn, and 20:00–21:00 h in Summer, while maintaining bimodal activity throughout the entire year (a peak of nocturnal activity and a peak of twilight activity). It is suggested that the Geoffroy’s cat maximizes hunting efficiency by synchronizing its activity periods with that of its preferred prey. When prey is scarce however, the activity peak shifts to the morning rather than evening.
The Geoffroy’s cat has been described as a good swimmer. A female in the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile crossed a 30 m wide fast-flowing river at least 20 times.
The Geoffroy’s cat shares its habitat with the pampas cat and other large felids such as the puma. They occasionally fall prey to the puma. In Argentina it is thought to compete with the Kodkod (Leopardus guigna). In the Andean Forest of Patagonia as well as the coastal areas of Buenos Aires province, diet segregation facilitates the coexistence of the Geoffroy’s cat with the culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) with high spatio-temporal overlap. Some studies suggest that a low density of ocelots contributes to a higher density of the Geoffroy’s cat in central Argentina and Bolivia. In Uruguay, following the elimination of large felids over time, the Geoffroy’s cat, margay and pampas cat has filled the niche of top predators.
Woodlands and wood patches seem to play an important role in the ecology of the species either as refuges, hunting areas, or for territorial marking. Wood patches are important communication centres where information is exchanged among individuals in the form of faecal scent marks deposited in large latrines.
The Geoffroy’s cat is known to disperse over a distance of more than 100 km and has an approximate home range size from 2.5–12 km², with males having larger home ranges than females. The extent of overlap between males and females varies according to prey availability. Body mass and home range size appears to be correlated in males in southern Brazil, but not in females.
Sexual maturity is reached at an age of 18 months for females and 24 months for males but can also be as early as 9–12 months. The birth season is from December to May, where a mother will have between one and four kittens. The oestrus lasts for 2–3 days, the oestrus cycle for 12 days and gestation for 72–78 days.
Prey
The Geoffroy’s cat is an opportunistic predator. It is more of a generalist than the pampas cat and has an extensive food-niche overlap with the jaguarundi. In South America it preys on introduced brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and small rodents, but its diet varies by region, often including aquatic and semi-aquatic prey such as fish, amphibians and water snakes. In Argentina the Geoffroy’s cat feeds mainly on small rodents and birds (including waterbirds), but the importance of birds in their diet varies seasonally (higher in spring and summer). In southern Chile they feed mainly on rodents and hares, and in Uruguay and Brazil also on fish and frogs along with small mammals, reptiles and birds. Where vizcachas occur, they are also preyed on, as are seven-banded armadillos.
Conservation Efforts and Protection Status
Since 1992 the Geoffroy’s cat has been listed in Appendix I of CITES. It is fully protected across its range. Hunting and trade are prohibited in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Although the Geoffroy’s cat is considered to be relatively common, its status is not well known, and it is difficult to judge the actual impact of threats. Further research is therefore needed to assess how tolerant and robust the Geoffroy’s cat really is to habitat changes. It is important to protect its habitat (natural woodland or areas with dense vegetation), advise ranchers on selective logging as opposed to total deforestation, improve anti-poaching activities, and raise awareness about the correct management of domestic cats and dogs.
Due to the high extent of road mortality across the species’ range, it is also important to incorporate wildlife under/overpasses in the most critical areas in order to mitigate losses.
Given the negative impact of retaliatory killing for the depredation of poultry and other livestock on the Geoffroy’s cat, it is important that effective measures are put in place for the protection of livestock, in order to mitigate this threat.
False identification of pure versus hybrid individuals of L. geoffroyi and L. guttulus in southern Brazil may also be negatively impacting effective conservation of the Geoffroy’s cat in the area. Further studies focusing on this issue are required, in order to determine the exact extent of occurrence of the Geoffroy’s cat in southern Brazil.
Main Threats
Retaliatory killings for poultry depredation as well as habitat loss and fragmentation are considered to be the main threats. In many regions of South America livestock and agricultural farming is widespread, leading to habitat changes such as desertification due to overgrazing, which may also negatively impact wild prey populations. Although the Geoffroy’s cat has a flexible diet and seems to tolerate moderate levels of deforestation, major habitat alterations are a threat.
The Geoffroy’s cat was heavily exploited during the boom of the cat skin trade in the late 1960s to the 1980s. Its coat was the second most common cat fur on the international fur market. Since 1988, international trade has declined, and commercial hunting seems to have essentially ceased. Regardless, its furs may still occasionally be seen in localised illegal trade. Today, human-related mortality come from retaliation for raids on poultry farms or the killing of other domestic animals, by domestic dogs or traffic accidents, and seldom from poaching for meat. In central Argentina these causes made up to 62% of the recorded mortality rate. Hunting pressure in Peninsula Valdez, Argentina, has been found to affect the demography and dispersal patterns of Geoffroy’s cat. Due to this, their recolonization rates may be affected, and local populations are threatened.
Geoffroy’s cats are also used for the pet market by hybridizing them with domestic cats to create the “safari cat”, although this occurs very rarely. There also seems to be an exposure to domestic carnivore diseases (e.g. canine distemper, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia virus) which could be a potential risk.
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J. Reppucci