Savanna Oncilla

The oncilla is the smallest of the South American spotted cats (Handbook of the Mammals of the World). It resembles the margay and the ocelot but is smaller, with a slender build and a narrower muzzle (Wikipedia, general species account). Its thick, soft fur is light brown to dark ochre, with numerous dark rosettes across the back and flanks that are open in the centre and irregular in shape. The underside is whitish and heavily marked with dark spots, the tail is ringed, and the backs of the ears are black with a bold white spot (Handbook of the Mammals of the World; Wikipedia, general species account). Melanistic individuals are reported from the more heavily forested parts of its range (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is mainly nocturnal and usually seen alone, though in the Brazilian Caatinga, where diurnal lizards are a main food source, it is active by day (Wikipedia, general species account; Handbook of the Mammals of the World). It is primarily terrestrial but climbs well, and it stalks its prey before pouncing. Oestrus lasts three to nine days, and females have one to three kittens after a gestation of 74 to 76 days. The kittens' eyes open after 8 to 17 days and they start solid food at 38 to 56 days (Wikipedia, general species account). Sexual maturity comes at about two to two and a half years (Wikipedia, general species account). The species has been reassessed in recent years: a 2013 proposal split off the southern tiger cat, L. guttulus, and a 2024 study proposed the clouded tiger cat, L. pardinoides, as a further species. A 2026 analysis added the tilcayo, L. tilcayo (Wikipedia, general species account).

The species' listed South American range includes Bolivia (GBIF species profile), but the sources give no Bolivian localities or records for this species.