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THE TIGER CAT COMPLEX

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WHY TIGER?

The name “tiger cat” comes from “El tigre” wich will be the jaguar in spanish. “Tigre” is related to Jaguar not to the tiger of Asia. Wich means, the tiger cat would be something like the “jaguar cat”. “Tigrillo” is one of the name in spanish wich means small jaguar. Everything is related to the Jaguar, not the Tiger. 

FACT SHEET

SIZE: SMALL, PROPORTIONS LIKE BRAZILIAN DOMESTIC CATS

HEAD & BODY: 49.1 CM (40 – 59.1 CM)

TAIL: 26.4 CM (20.4 – 32 CM)   ~ 60% H&B

BODY MASS: 2.4 KG (1.75 – 3.5 KG)

BASIC ARCHETYPE

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DISTRIBUITION

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HABITAT

Found mostly in critical habitats: cloud forests of the Talamanca-La Amistad Range and the tropical Andes, Atlantic forest, semi-arid Caatinga woodland/shrubland, and savannas.

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DIET

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REPRODUCTION

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AREA REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSERVATION

Area requirements for conservation of tiger cats are very large.

High density areas: 5,000 – 8,333 km2       20,000 – 33,333 km2

Low density areas:  ≥ 25,000 km2                  ≥ 100,000 km2

Almost no protected area can be considered large enough to support viable tiger cats populations for long-term conservation in isolation (Mirador State Park being an exception)

Tiger cats will largely depend on conservation strategies implemented outside of protected areas.

MAIN THREATS

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Habitat loss and fragmentation;
Diseases from domestic dogs and cats;
Poaching/retaliatory killing;
Road-kills;
Pet trade.

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