Big Cats - Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

I thought I'd take a break from local creatures for a bit and do some sketches of something exotic. So... the first in what may be a series, here is... the ocelot.

The ocelot is also known as the "painted leopard". It is primarily found in South and Central America. It grows to be about twice the size of a large housecat (20-30 lbs). Because of its beautiful fur, it was hunted heavily in the 1800 and 1900s. However, perhaps because of the attention of being threatened, it is now off of the endangered species list. In fact, it has expanded it's territory enough to occasionally be seen in Texas.

The ocelot is nocturnal and territorial. It will fight a rival to the death over an invasion of territory. Ocelots eat most of the smaller creatures found in the jungles of South America, monkeys, snakes, rodents, fish and birds.

Because of its size, some people have attempted to keep it as a pet. Perhaps most famously, the artist Salvador Dali often traveled with his pet ocelot.