Kodkod

A primary resident of central and southern Chile, the Kodkod (or Guiña) is the smallest cat in the Americas with an equally small area of distribution compared to other South American cats. It has a small head, large feet and a thick tail along with a brownish-yellow coat decorated with dark spots.

The Kodkod’s habitat is most commonly identified by the presence of bamboo in the understory. It is an arboreal species that prefers moist temperate forests. A shy creature, the Kodkod only ventures into open terrain under the cover of darkness; therefore, vegetation cover during the day is essential for any Kodkod habitat.

An opportunistic hunter on the ground, it feeds primarily on small mammals such as rodents, as well as marsupials, birds and reptiles and has an impact on these populations. The Kodkod has between 1 – 4 offspring and a gestation period of up to 78 days.