A forest cat with large eyes, a long tail, and strong climbing skills.
Its coat ranges from yellowish to brown and has dark rosettes. The margay has large eyes, a long thick tail, and a white underside.
Researchers used paired camera stations in six areas of Brazil’s southern Atlantic Forest during the springs and summers of 2017–2019. The survey produced 66 margay records. After two areas with few records were left out of the density comparison, model estimates ranged from about 10 cats per 100 square kilometres in the least wooded area to about 37 in the most wooded area. The study linked higher margay density with greater vegetation cover.
Activity analyses used 62 independent margay records. The mean detection time fell between 01:00 and 02:00, and no significant difference in activity patterns was found among the six sampled areas. Density estimates, however, were associated with vegetation cover and human disturbance.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The authors report that margays persisted at intermediate densities under moderate habitat modification and human disturbance. They suggest that conserving small, connected native forest patches matters at the southern limit of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.