Colocolo

For other uses, see Colocolo (disambiguation).

Colocolo[1]
Conservation status
Not recognized (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Leopardus
Species:	L. colocolo
Binomial name
Leopardus colocolo (Molina, 1782)
Combined range of Colocolo, Pampas Cat, and Pantanal Cat
Synonyms
Oncifelis colocolo Lynchailurus colocolo

The Colocolo (Leopardus colocolo) is a small spotted and striped cat native to the west Andean slope in central and northern Chile.^[2] Until recently it included the more widespread Pampas Cat (L. pajeros) and Pantanal Cat (L. braccatus),^[1] and some maintain these as subspecies of the Colocolo.^[3][4] Confusingly, when these are treated as subspecies of the Colocolo, the "combined" species is sometimes referred to as the Pampas Cat.^[5]

Taxonomy

Genus

Like most other small cats, the Colocolo was formerly included in the genus Felis,^[6] but together with the Geoffroy's Cat and Kodkod some have placed it in Oncifelis instead.^[7] Today all major authorities place it in Leopardus.^[1][3][4]

Species and subspecies

As traditionally defined, the Colocolo occurs in the widest range of habitats of any small South American felid.^[3] This, combined with distinct differences in pelage colour/pattern and cranial measurements, was the basis for splitting the Pantanal Cat and Pampas Cat from the Colocolo.^[2] Based on genetic divergence, it has been estimated that the splits within the Colocolo group occurred approximately 1.7 million years ago.^[8] This divergence was lower than that found within the Geoffroy's Cat (approximately 2 mya) or Oncilla (approximately 3.7 mya; this very high divergence –far higher than other species in the genus– has resulted in some suggesting more than one species is involved in the Oncilla).^[8] Furthermore, the distribution pattern within the Colocolo group based on genetics did not completely match that based on pelage colour/pattern and cranial measurements, and supported some of the traditional subspecific division rather than species division.^[8] While the population in northern Chile has been placed in the Colocolo based on cranial measurements, genetics associate it with Pampas Cats from Bolivia, and while the population in western Argentina has been placed in the Pampas Cat based on pelage colour/pattern and cranial measurements, genetics associate it with the Colocolo.^[2][8] More recent genetic analysis also supports maintaining the Pantanal and Pampas Cats as subspecies of the Colocolo.^[9]

When the Pantanal and Pampas Cats are treated as a separate species, the Colocolo has two subspecies: L. c. colocolo and L. c. wolffsohni.^[1][2]

Description and habitat

The Colocolo is a small, but heavy-set cat, only 56 to 67 centimetres (22 to 26 in) in body length, with a short 29 to 32 centimetres (11 to 13 in) tail, and weighing around 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) on average.^[10] There are two subspecies, which differ in their pelage colour and pattern:

• L. c. colocolo (nominate): Reddish or dark grey with rusty-cinnamon stripes on the flanks and two stripes on each cheek, a cinnamon upperside of the ears with black edges and tips, 4-5 reddish rings on the tail (outer two are darker), dark brown stripes on the legs, black chest spots, and whitish underparts with rusty-ochraceous stripes.^[2] It is found in central Chile in subtropical, xerophytic forests at altitudes of up to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft).^[2]
• L. c. wolffsohni: Similar to nominate, but the flanks have large, reddish brown rosette-shaped spots with darker borders, the upperside of the ears are black with a greyish base and a small grey spot, there are usually 8 rings on the tail (of the same colour as the flank spots), and the stripes on the legs and spots/stripes on the underparts are very dark brown (almost black).^[2] It is found in northern Chile in spiny shrublands and páramo.^[2] Of two specimens, one was taken at an altitude between 2,000 and 4,000 metres (6,600 and 13,000 ft), and the other at 4,100 metres (13,500 ft).^[2]

Externally, the Colocolo differs from the Pantanal Cat in its larger size, and pelage colour and pattern.^[2] Some Pampas Cats are as large as the Colocolo, and some subspecies of the Pampas Cats have the same pelage colour and pattern as Colocolos of the subspecies wolffsohni.^[2]

Behavior

Little is known about the Colocolo's hunting and breeding habits; however, it is believed to prey mainly on small mammals and birds. Guinea pigs are thought to form a large part of the diet, along with viscachas and other rodents, and tinamous.^[10] Though some have suggested it is chiefly nocturnal,^[10] others suggest it is mainly diurnal.^[9]

Litters are relatively small, usually consisting of only one or two kittens, and occasionally three. The kittens weigh around 130 grams (4.6 oz) at birth.^[10] The Colocolo's life span is between 9 and 16 years.^{[citation needed]}

Status

The IUCN have only rated the "combined" species (including Pantanal and Pampas Cats), in which case the Colocolo is considered Near Threatened.^[4] Whether the Colocolo will receive a higher rating if the Pantanal and Pampas Cats are treated as separate species is unclear, but it may be Endangered,^[2] and its range is smaller than that of the Kodkod, rated as Vulnerable by the IUCN.^[11] However, unlike the Kodkod, the Colocolo is not associated with the highly threatened temperate rainforests found in the region.^[2][11]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Wozencraft, W. Christopher (16 November 2005). "Order Carnivora (pp. 532-628)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). pp. 538. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} Garcia-Perea, R. (1994). The pampas cat group (Genus Lynchailurus Severertzov 1858) (Carnivora: Felidae), A systematic and biogeographic review. American Museum Novitates 3096: 1-35.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Sunquist, M. E., & Sunquist, F. C. (2009). Colocolo (Leopardus colocolo). Pp. 146 in: Wildons, D. E., & Mittermeier, R. A. eds. (2009). Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 1. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Leopardus colocolo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2008. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/15309. Retrieved 5 January 2011. 
5. ^ Novak, R. M., eds. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. 1. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. ISBN 0-8018-578-9
6. ^ Redford, K. H., & Eisenberg, J. F. (1992). Mammals of the Neotropics – The Southern Cone. Vol. 2. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. ISBN 0-226-70681-8
7. ^ Wozencraft, C. (1993). Order Carnivora. Pp. 279-348 in: Wilson, D., & Reeder, D. eds. (1993). Mammal Species of the World. 2nd edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. ISBN 978-1560982173
8. ^ ^{a b c d} Johnson, Slattery, Erizirik, Kim, Raymond, Bonacic, Cambre, Crawshaw, Nunes, Seuánez, Moreira, Seymour, Simon, Swanson, & O'Brien (1999). Disparate phylogeographic patterns of molecular genetic variation in four closely related South American small cat species. Molecular Ecology 8: S79–94
9. ^ ^{a b} Macdonald, D., & Loveridge, A., eds. (2010). The Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-923445-5
10. ^ ^{a b c d} Sunquist, Mel; Sunquist, Fiona (2002). Wild cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 201–204. ISBN 0-226-77999-8. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "Leopardus guigna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2008. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/15311. Retrieved 5 January 2011.