The pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo) is a small cat species widely distributed outside the moist woodlands of South America and associated with more open habitats. Although named after the Argentine steppe, it can inhabit a variety of environments, from dry scrub and grasslands to dry forests, marshy wetlands, and rocky areas.

Morphological Features

The pampas cat's coat color ranges from black to yellow and light grayish-brown. Individuals living in the Andes are generally gray with reddish streaks separated by spots, while in Argentina, the coat tends to be longer and paler, yellow-brown. Long fur is also typical in Brazilian individuals; it is usually rust-colored with black bands on a yellow-orange background on the sides and underside.

Morphologically, the pampas cat's ears are larger and more pointed than those of most small neotropical cats. Typical head-and-body length ranges from 435 to 700 mm. Tail length is 220 to 322 mm, shoulder height is 300 to 350 mm, and the average weight is 3 to 7 kg.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat

The pampas cat ranges from most of Argentina and Uruguay to the dry forests (chaco, cerrado) of Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil, and extends along the Andes into Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. Its range includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

Its habitats include a variety of environments, including subtropical/tropical dry forest, savanna (dry), temperate scrub, subtropical/tropical dry/humid/high-altitude scrub, subtropical/tropical dry/seasonally wet/high-altitude grassland, and temperate desert. However, the species is considered extinct from the grasslands of central Argentina and is rare in parts of its distribution.

Nutrition

The pampas cat's diet varies depending on its geographic location. Generally, its prey includes small mammals and ground-dwelling birds. In populations living in the high Andes, its diet consists primarily of mountain hares and small rodents.

Ecology and Behavior

Although the pampas cat is typically associated with open habitats, it can also be found in dry scrubland, grasslands, dry forests, marshes, and rocky areas. Its diet consists of small mammals and ground-dwelling birds. In Emas National Park, Brazil, it has been observed to be active primarily during the day, at dusk, and occasionally at night.

Threats and Conservation Status

The pampas cat was listed as Near Threatened (NT) in 2016 because it is rare or very rare across most of its range, and its population appears to be declining due to widespread habitat loss or decline in quality. Habitat loss (conversion to agricultural cropland) and degradation (livestock grazing) are considered threats. The rapid rate of conversion of forests to agricultural land, particularly in the Gran Chaco region, is estimated to cause a population decline of 36.5% over three generations.^【1】  

Additional threats include hunting by dogs, poaching, and road kills. In the High Andes and Peru, habitat degradation and active persecution by local populations are also threats.

As part of conservation efforts, the species is listed on CITES Appendix II, and hunting is prohibited in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru. It is protected by national legislation throughout most of its distribution and occurs in many national protected areas