Pampas Cat Complex Leopardus colocola Classification

Central Chile is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, inhabited by four wild cat species: kodkod ( Leopardus guigna ), pampas cat ( Leopardus colocola ), Andean cat ( Leopardus jacobita ), and puma ( Puma concolor ). However, threats to these felids in this region remains poorly documented.

This study investigates the primary causes of wild cat mortality in central Chile from 2012 to 2024, compiling mortality records categorized by species, political region, land use type, and year. Mortality events were gathered for three species, but we did not find any record for the Andean cat.

Roadkill was the predominant cause of death, followed by dog attacks, drowning incidents, and hunting. Statistical analyses suggested significant associations among felid species and political regions, species and cause of death, and regions and cause of death.

Our findings underscore the urgent need to mitigate human-induced threats, especially road collisions, and highlight critical knowledge gaps regarding the Andean cat. Future research should prioritize expanding data collection to inform targeted conservation strategies.

Guzmán Marín, Byron & Hernández, Josefina & Aguilera, Natividad & Molina, Francisco & Fernández, Leonardo & Dumont Viollaz, Ailén. (2025). Roadkill as the primary cause of death of the kodkod, pampas cat and puma in the biodiversity hotspot of central Chile. Mammalia. 89. 10.1515/mammalia-2024-0162.

The Muñoa's Pampas cat (Leopardus munoai) is a relatively understudied species restricted to open savannas and grasslands of Southern Brazil, Uruguay and NE Argentina, that has been recently split from the broader "Pampas cat" species complex. Only three documented records of the species have been published since the year 2000 for the Argentine portion of its distribution, a situation that led to speculations regarding its conservation status in Argentina.

We conducted an intensive camera-trap survey (2,067 camera-trapping stations and 15,560 camera-trapping days) to assess the presence of the Muñoa's Pampas cat in an area of 275.3km2 within the Iberá National Park and the adjacent Iberá National Reserve, Corrientes province, Argentina. Four records of Munoa's Pampas cat were obtained, representing at least two adults and one young individual. Only one camera-trapping record of this species had been previously obtained in Argentina, during a survey carried out in 2009 in the same study area, despite an important camera-trapping effort in the Corrientes province.

All camera-trap records of Munoa's Pampas cat in Argentina are concentrated in areas of temporally flooded grasslands locally known as "Malezales", suggesting that this habitat type is critically important for the conservation of this rare felid.

The Ibera National Park and the adjacent Ibera National Reserve provide the adequate framework for the conservation of an important piece of habitat for Munoa's Pampas cat and constitute a stronghold for the species in Argentina

Distel, A.; Di Bitetti, M.S.; Cirignoli, S.; Di Blanco, Y.E.; Pereira, J.A.
The last stronghold of Muñoa's Pampas cat (Leopardus munoai) in Argentina?
2023 Journal for Nature Conservation (74): 126449

Muñoa's pampas cat (recently proposed to be a distinct species, Leopardus munoai) is a small felid that is endemic to the Uruguayan Savanna ecoregion (encompassing southern Brazil, north-eastern Argentina and Uruguay). Previous studies have suggested that it is threatened, but its conservation assessment has been hampered by the scarcity of data on its ecology, including spatial distribution, population size, and connectivity.

To address these issues, we developed current spatial distribution models and used them to: (i) identify the environmental variables affecting L. munoai habitat suitability; (ii) generate estimates of population size to assess its conservation status based on IUCN criteria; (iii) estimate habitat suitability in protected areas; (iv) identify potential paths of connectivity among protected areas and sites of confirmed occurrence; and (v) assess the proportion of the estimated connectivity paths that overlap with threatened areas (based on future threat projections).

Our results indicated higher habitat suitability in the central area of the species' distribution. All estimates (based on different demographic assumptions) indicated that L. munoai should be categorized in one of the IUCN threatened categories. Worryingly, several estimates indicated that it may be Critically Endangered. Only 0.73 % of its high-suitability landscape is presently protected, and connectivity among most protected areas and occurrence records was low. Additionally, areas with estimated connectivity among occurrence records mostly overlapped with regions with a high level of future habitat loss threat (92.46 %), highlighting the urgent need for an international approach to ensure the long-term survival of this elusive felid.

Tirelli, F.P.; Trigo, T.C.; Queirolo, D.; Benhur Kasper, C.; Bou, N.; Peters, F.; Mazim, F.D.; Martinez-Lanfranco, J.A.; Gonz lez, E.M.; Espinosa, C.; Favarini, M.; Goncalves da Silva, L.; MacDonald, D.W.; Lucherini, M.; Eizirik, E.
Remarkable record of two mesocarnivores in the cloud forest of Baja Verapaz, Gautemala

2021 Journal of Nature Conservation (62): 11-19

The pampas cat Leopardus colocola has been subject to conflicting classifications over the years. Currently, one polytypic species with seven subspecies is recognized, but integrative taxonomic study for this debated group has never been done. Here, we combine the broadest morphological coverage of the pampas cat to date with molecular data and ecological niche models to clarify its species composition and test the validity of recently proposed subspecies.

The multiple lines of evidence derived from morphology, molecular, biogeography and climatic niche datasets converged on the recognition of five monotypic species: L. braccatus, L. colocola, L. garleppi (including thomasi, budini, steinbachi, crespoi and wolffsohni as synonyms), L. munoai and L. pajeros (including crucina as synonym). These five species are morphologically diagnosable based on skin and skull traits, have evolved in distinct climatic niche spaces and were recovered in molecular species delimitation.

Contrary to previous taxonomic arrangements, we do not recognize subspecies in pampas cats. To objectively define the two most controversial species, we designate neotypes for L. colocola and L. pajeros. The diversification of pampas cats is associated with Middle Pleistocene glaciations, but additional genetic samples from the central Andean region are still needed to conclusively reconstruct its evolutionary history.

Nascimento, F.O.; Cheng, J.; Feijo, A
Taxonomic revision of the pampas cat (Leopardus colocola) complex (Carnivora: Felidae): an integrative approach
2020  Zoological Journal of the Linnean Scoiety (191): 575-611

Many species are difficult to study in the natural environment due to reserved habits that impede further ecological studies, such as studies on ecology and reproductive behavior.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive behavior of the pampas cat (Leopardus colocola) kept in a zoo, in order to contribute to the knowledge about the species.

As results, 598 behaviors were recorded and evaluated, categorized in individual, social and reproductive.

The captive environment provided the opportunity to generate behavioral information about specie with a focus on husbandry and ex situ breeding programs.

Monticelli, C.; Nogali, O.
Study of the reproductive behaviour of the pampas cat Leopardus colocola (Molina, 1782) (Carnivora: Felidae) in a captive environment
2019 Revista Brasileira de Zoociencias (20): 1-18