Andean cat (Leopardus jacobitus)),2also known as titiof theaimara),3

chinchay, lynx cat, is aspeciesofmammalcarnivorousof thefamilyFelidae.14It is

one of thefelinesless known and is considered as thespeciesmore threatened
ofAmerican continent.
The Andean cat is native toSouth America. Its distribution is limited to the regions
mountainous of theAndes; in the center and south ofPeruand to the north ofBolivia, ChileyArgentina

Description[edit]
It can reach a length of 60-80cm, more the tail of about 35 cm; the height at the shoulders
35 cm; weighs between 4 and 7 kg; with long fur, especially in the dorsal region; with a design of
brown or reddish spots of variable shape (bands, streaks, dots) on a grayish background
grayish; sometimes it reachestabby appearancewith parallel vertical stripes descending from the back to
the flanks. The tail wrapped with seven to nine dark rings, the tip white, just like the part
ventral, sprinkled with black spots: legs, cheeks, lips, periorbital area. The ears are
large and slightly rounded, the sturdy legs, stained black, with soles
brown. This species is endangered due to humans and hunting.
furtive

Habitat[edit]
It inhabits areas of vegetation that are not very tall or dense, as well as in thesteppesand
areas
rocky. It has been documented from 3000 to 5000.msnm, maybe higher, above the
tree line, although at higher latitudes its altitudinal range decreases, reaching in the
provinceArgentinafromMendozato live below 2000msnm.
In that Argentine province, the southernmost tip of its geonemy, the presence has been noted
of the species in theprivate reserve Villavicencioand the proposal of is considered valuable
attach as a new reservation the environment ofUspallata Hillsfor being very likely
area of presence of the Andean cat between 2500 and 3000 meters above sea level.

The southern limit of the known distribution for this species on the western slope of Los
Andes-Chile- it was traditionally situated much further north than in Argentina. But, despite
the evasive behavior of Leopardus jacobitus and the difficulty of observing it, records
recently and the use of camera traps have confirmed the presence of this species
further south, giving credibility to the isolated testimony of the naturalistRodolfo Amando
Philippi, who in1891he pointed out having observed in the precordillera ofThe Meadow, in the
surroundings ofSantiago, a feline with a description that matches that of Leopardus
jacobitus. A publication from 2015 claims that until before that date the records more
southern regions were located to the north ofSaint Peter of Atacama, around theHot Springs of
Puritama, Antofagasta Region; but add that new records were being added much more
to the south, inCaserones, Atacama Region, and inside ofThe Vilos, Coquimbo Region. 5

Although he lives alone in the high mountains, the valleys inhabited by humans act as barriers,
fragmenting the population, meaning that even low levels of poaching can be
devastators. Their skin has traditionally been coveted among local hunters and is
frequently killed in Chile and Bolivia due to local beliefs. Specifically, it
it is noted that there is a belief among the Aymara people that crossing paths with an Andean cat is not
killing him would bring a year of bad luck.

Conduct[edit]
It shows a calm demeanor and apparently does not feel disturbed by the presence.
humans since they tolerate the closeness of observers without showing much fear. They react
aggressively against thefox howls, raising the hairs on its back, probably because it is a
competitortrophic.

Diet[edit]
It feeds onrodentssmall and medium size of the
genresAbrothrix, Chinchilla, Lagidium, Ctenomys, yPhylotis, among others, besides
ofbirdsaquatic, terrestrial, eggs andreptiles.
destruction of its habitat. The Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita) is one of these
small felines. Considered a sacred species in Andean cultures,
it is only found in the high regions of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.
Today it is classified as endangered by the International Union for the
Nature Conservation (IUCN) and is the most threatened feline on the continent
American.
So little is known about this feline that every year new
findings,” explains the Engineer in Renewable Natural Resources and student
from the Master's program of the Faculty of Forestry Sciences and Conservation
Nature of the University of Chile, Nicolás Lagos, who leads a study
unpublished aimed at conserving this species. The scientist doesn't hide his fascination
for investigating this feline: it is one of the most elusive in the world and lives in more
5,000 meters above sea level. There it has adapted to withstand the
intense solar radiation of the day and the extreme cold of the night.

The research, "Proposal for conservation areas for the Andean cat (Leopardus
"jacobita) in the dry highlands of Chile," takes place in the altiplano (between the regions of
Arica, Parinacota, and Tarapacá) and seeks to accurately determine the habitat in the
how the species unfolds. The initiative is funded by the Cat Alliance
Andino (AGA), Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), Rufford Small Grants and Idea
Wild, and has the support of the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), the
Geomatics and Landscape Ecology Laboratory (GEP) of the University of Chile
and the Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology of the Pontifical Catholic University of
Chile.
July 2015
Why is this Andean cat so unknown?
This is one of the questions we ask ourselves and that we are trying to address.
The Andean cat is a very rare species; in fact, there are very few of them.
those who have had the fortune to see one in front, and even when you study them by
example through remote cameras, the records you obtain are very
scarce. What is known so far is that this cat is very specialized;
of the carnivores with whom it lives is the only species that is restricted to
the Andes and also in very specific environments. It likes to be in rocky areas.
with a high presence of vizcachas, which is their main prey. It is also known that
their densities are very low compared to other carnivores and even
other felines, which makes their population numbers very low. It is
possible that this is because the species is naturally rare, which in turn
makes it very fragile and sensitive to any disturbance.
What is its habitat?
This species lives at high altitudes, reaching over 5,000 m above sea level.
sea level, in very hostile environments, with very high solar radiation and cold
extreme. They are very remote places that, in a way, have been for a certain time
long time away from human disturbances. However, today there is a
strong pressure in various sectors of the Andes due to mining activities
that could be modifying and negatively affecting this environment.
Has this habitat been modified by humans? Why is it in danger?
of extinction?
This is something difficult to assess, as in most cases it is impossible.
to know how the populations of the species were before it began
some extractive activity, but if possible speculate that the extraction of water
makes it a very rare animal and at the same time very sensitive to modification and
loss of its habitat.
What are the main proposals for its conservation?
Within the Andean Cat Alliance, we work on three lines of action:
Research, Education and Training, and Conservation. The idea is to generate
knowledge about the biology and ecology of the species and at the same time work on
together with local communities, conducting awareness campaigns and
education in rural schools; support government agencies that are
in charge of conservation in the area. This makes it possible to work with the different
artists that influence the conservation of the species; it is not only necessary
protect and conserve natural areas, but also help raise awareness among people,
on those who live next to the Andean cat and also help to create policies
public or raise awareness among those who formulate them in order to achieve this great
objective.
What are the non-invasive methodologies used for it?
monitoring?
Non-invasive means that they are methodologies that do not involve capturing or
to carry out animal handling. This is done to study species that are very
sensitive or very difficult to see. In the case of the Andean cat, the
the methodologies used are mainly two: the camera traps, which are
camera traps with a motion sensor: when an animal passes by
In front, they are activated and a photo is taken. These traps are left installed in
land and can operate independently for several months. The other
the methodology is a little less elegant: these cats, like the cats of
house, they use latrines to defecate, which they visit from time to time. These
you find them in the same rocky areas and in deep caves. But the thing is that
those same rocky areas are used by another species of small cat, the cat
colocolo, very similar to the Andean cat, and it is impossible to differentiate between them.
Two of those belong to these feces. For this reason, the idea is to collect them in the field and then in
a laboratory to extract the DNA to find out to whom it belongs.
While on the ground, what has surprised you the most regarding
deterioration of the environment?

What has caught my attention the most in the field is the state of desolation of
many of the highland towns, which in the past could accommodate dozens of
people and in whom today you only find a family; they live in neglect
total, isolated in places so beautiful and remote at the same time. This may not be about
not of a deterioration of the natural environment that we are accustomed to, but of the environment
cultural, which especially in these places, is closely linked to
natural. The inhabitants and local communities are those who have lived for
centuries in those places, under such a close relationship with nature and united to
their environment and with a wisdom that is being lost; they are cultures that are being
extinguishing. Today there are few children seen in these villages, and you know that.
In one generation or two, there will be no one left in those places. And by the end of
it counts who they are, it is the local communities who are in this environment
natural, those who live in it and are responsible for preserving it; and these places are going
remaining alone and one sees how centuries of wisdom, knowledge, and culture
they are going extinct

Characteristics
The Andean cat is a small feline measuring between 95 and 130 cm in length, and 25 to 35 cm in height.
black. The snout has a black line that runs along the face from the
outer corner of the eye. Gray hair is typical of felines fed by the
mountain, like the snow leopards and Manul.

The Andean cat has very sharp hearing thanks to its tympanic membranes.
developed. This development is also found in the sand cat.

Habitat: Where it lives

The Andean cat comes from South America in the Andes Mountain range.
finds in the south of Peru, southwest of Bolivia, north of Argentina and northeast of
Chile.

Locally, this feline is called 'huana titi', which means dry cat,
describe its typical habitat. It lives in rocky, arid, and sparsely vegetated areas.
from the high Andes above the tree line, and is confined to habitats at a
altitude of over 4,000 m above sea level. The climate is cold all year round, with
snow at any time of the year. Almost all precipitation is in the form of
Snow and winds are variable and intense. The vegetation is poor and is
dominated by dwarf shrubs and sandy grass beaches. There are no trees, only
creeping shrubs.