Key Facts about Margays

~ Aboreal cat of Latin American forests ~

~  Hind feet can rotate 180° ~

~ Slow reproductive rate ~

Margay (Leopardus wiedii) Classification

The Margay belongs to the genus Leopardus and the full taxonomy, scientific classification or higher classification of the Margay species (Leopardus wiedii) is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)

Class: Mammalia (mammals)

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Suborder: Feliformia (cat-like)

Family: Felidae (cats)

Subfamily: Felinae (small cats)

Genus: Leopardus

Species: Leopardus wiedii (Margay)

Margay (Leopardus wiedii) Subspecies (lower classification)

The global conservation status for the Margay is Near Threatened (NT) and populations are declining.

Eleven subspecies of Margays have been described in the past:

• Leopardus wiedii wiedii - south Brazil, south Colombia
• Leopardus wiedii amazonicus - Amazonas Brazil
• Leopardus wiedii boliviae - Bolivia, north Argentina
• Leopardus wiedii pirrensis - Panama
• Leopardus wiedii vigens - lower Amazon Brazil, Guianas
• Leopardus wiedii glauculus - Mexico
• Leopardus wiedii nicaraguae - Nicaragua
• Leopardus wiedii oaxacensis - Oaxaca mountains Mexico
• Leopardus wiedii salvinia - Guatemala, Belize
• Leopardus wiedii yucatanicus - Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
• Leopardus wiedii cooperi - Texas USA, north-east Mexico

However the latest taxonomic revision (2017) based on recent genetic studies proposes three subspecies pending further research:

• Leopardus wiedii wiedii - South America south of the Amazon
• Leopardus wiedii vigens - South America north of the Amazon
• Leopardus wiedii glauculus - Central America

References:

• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017-3. www.iucnredlist.org - Leopardus wiedii. 02 Jan 2018.

• Kitchener et al. 2017. A revised taxonomy of the Felidae. The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group.

Margay Conservation & Research

The following organizations are dedicated to research and conservation of the smaller cats of Latin America:

• Institute Pro-Carnivores - Wild Cats of Brazil
• Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation - Global

Please support these organizations with their important work. No matter how small or large your donation, every bit helps!

Margay Facts and Information

The following websites have well researched and authoritative information on Margays:

• Margay Fact Sheet -  International Soc. for Endangered Cats (ISEC)
• Margay Images and Video Clips in the Wild - ARKive

• Margay Status - IUCN Red List
• Margay Distribution Map - IUCN Red List
• Margay Detailed Information and Margay Academic Reference List - IUCN Cat Specialist Group

Books on Neotropical Cats 

Currently there is no publication in print dedicated to just the cats of Central and South America.

A book entitled Neotropical Cats by TG de Oliviera was published in 1994 however is no longer in print, and may be available in libraries or in used book stores.

The latest information on these cats can be found in books covering all wild cats such as those shown below.

Wild Cats of the World

by Luke Hunter 2015

(general and academic interest)

Amazon US (incl Kindle)

AbeBooks global

The Wild Cat Book

by Fiona and Mel Sunquist 2014

(general interest)

Amazon US (incl Kindle)

AbeBooks global

Small Wild Cats

by J. Sanderson and P. Watson 2011

(general interest)

Amazon US (incl Kindle)

AbeBooks global