Ocelot

Ocelot

By: Lori Embrey and Katherine Kelly

What is the classification of an ocelot? What are some characteristics of its classification?

What is a food chain that the ocelot is involved in?

Grass

Producer/Autotroph

An ocelot is a mammal. Some characteristics of mammals are:

1. Mammals are warm blooded.

2. They have either hair or fur.

3. Mammals have well developed brains.

4. They have lungs which they use to breathe air.

5. Their young are born alive.

Earthworms

Rabbit

Quatrinary Consumer/ Heterotroph/ Decomposer

Primary Consumer/ Heterotroph/Herbivore

Anaconda

Ocelot

Tertiary Consumer/ Heterotroph/ Carnivore

Secondary Consumer/ Heterotroph/ Carnivore

What is an ocelot?

What are some adaptations of an ocelot?

What is an ocelot's biome, geographical distribution, and niche?

An ocelot is a small, fierce wild cat that is similar to a leopard. Ocelots are known for their ability to climb down trees head first and their high jumps. They live in forested areas between Texas and Argentina; however, they are found mostly in South America. There are few ocelots left, and they are endangered in the U.S.

An ocelot's biome or ecosystem is located mostly in the rainforests of South America; however, ocelots exist in many different biomes. Ocelots live in wooded areas between Texas and Argentina. An ocelot's niche, or where it spends most of its time is under dense canopies and on top of trees.

Adaptations are inherited traits that help organisms survive. Some adaptations of ocelots are:

1. Their coloring allows them blend in with their surroundings, so they can hide from predators.

2. Ocelots are nocturnal, so they can easily hunt their prey in the darkness of the night.

3. They have strong legs which help them move fast, swim, and jump high to catch prey.

4. Ocelots have pointed fangs and sharp back teeth so they can quickly kill and eat their prey.

5. They have retractable claws for hunting and climbing trees.