Reproductive life history of ocelotsLeopardus pardalis in southern Texas |
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| Authors: | Linda L Laack Michael E Tewes Aaron M Haines John H Rappole |
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| Institution: | (1) Feline Research Program, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA;(2) Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;(3) Present address: Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, Room 107 VMA Building, 4461 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA;(4) Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Rio Hondo, TX 78583, USA;(5) Present address: Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263-4321, USA |
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| Abstract: | The ocelotLeopardus pardalis Linnaeus, 1758 is an endangered felid in the United States currently restricted to southern Texas. The objectives of our
study were to obtain data on ocelot parturition dates, fecundity, sex ratios, den characteristics, and first year survival,
all of which are critical in development of population viability models. Sixteen parturition events were recorded ranging
from mid-April to late December for 12 wild ocelots. Cumulatively, litters consisted of 1 or 2 kittens (ˉ = 1.2 ± 0.44 SD).
Cumulative sex ratio was 1∶2.5 (male:female); however, there was no significant difference between the observed sex ratio
and a 1∶1 sex ratio. Ten den sites were in close proximity (≤ 10 m) to dense thornshrub. Adult female ocelots used 2 to 4
den sites for each litter with distance between consecutively occupied dens ranging from 110 to 280 m (ˉ = 158 m ± 93 SD).
An estimated annual survival for ocelots 0 to 1 year of age was 0.68. Evidence suggests that ocelots in the wild may breed
more frequently than had been previously hypothesized. |
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