Southern Pampas Cat

This small wild cat has a thick, shaggy coat that can make its body look broader than it is. Grey-brown to sandy tones blend into dry vegetation, while darker markings on the legs and face are useful details. Its long fur and less uniformly spotted body distinguish it from Geoffroy’s cat.

The pampas cat hunts on the ground in open habitats, including the steppe and scrub of coastal Patagonia. Small mammals form an important part of its prey, with birds and reptiles also taken. Its ecology remains less well documented than that of many more conspicuous regional mammals.

In our region. Documented in the regional book and photographic collection, but an exceptional encounter. Its inclusion records the fauna of Valdés; it is not a species visitors should expect to see on a routine tour.