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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | < 10,000 |
| CITES Status: | Appendix II |
| IUCN Status: | Least concern |
| U.S. ESA Status: | Not Listed |
| Body Length: | 37 to 51 cm |
| Tail Length: | 20–25 cm |
| Shoulder Height: | 25 cm |
| Weight: | 2-2.5 kg |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | 11 years in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | 2 years (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | 2 years (Males) |
| Litter Size: | 1-3 kittens |
| Gestation Period: | 72–78 days |
Identification:
- Size: Extremely small, comparable to or smaller than a typical house cat, with a head-to-body length of 37–51 cm.
- Coat: Buff, gray-brown, or reddish-brown fur covered in numerous small black spots that may form broken streaks on the head and neck.
- Distinctive Features: It has a small head with black lines crossing the cheeks and a vertical stripe rising to the crown. Its tail is notably thick and bushy, marked with 10–12 narrow black rings.
- Melanism: All-black individuals are relatively common in certain parts of its range.
Subspecies:
- southern Chile and southwestern Argentina
- central and northern Chile
Habitat:
This species is strongly associated with mature temperate rainforests, particularly Valdivian and Araucaria forests. It prefers areas with a dense understory of bamboo and ferns, which provide essential cover. While it primarily inhabits primary forests, it shows some tolerance for secondary growth and shrubland provided there is sufficient vegetation.
Biomes: The Kodkod is a signature species of the Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests biome, specifically the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest ecoregion and the Chilean Matorral.
Biomes: The Kodkod is a signature species of the Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests biome, specifically the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest ecoregion and the Chilean Matorral.
Range:
The Kodkod has the smallest distribution of any New World cat. Its range is restricted to a narrow coastal strip in central and southern Chile (from approximately 30° to 48° S) and a small, marginal portion of southwestern Argentina. It is also found on Chiloé Island off the Chilean coast.
Life Cycle:
- Reproduction: Litter sizes range from 1 to 4 kittens after a gestation period of 72–78 days.
- Maturity: Sexual maturity is reached at approximately 24 months.
- Lifespan: They can live up to 11 years in the wild.
Food & Hunting:
As a carnivorous predator, its diet consists of small mammals (mostly rodents), birds, reptiles, and large insects. They are exceptionally agile and hunt both on the ground and in trees, using their large feet and sharp claws to climb efficiently. They are also known to scavenge on carrion.
Behaviour:
Kodkods are primarily nocturnal and solitary, though they may occasionally be active during the day if there is sufficient cover. They are highly arboreal, using trees for both hunting and resting. Males maintain larger home ranges that overlap with several females, a typical social structure for small felids.
Conservation:
In late 2025, the IUCN moved the Kodkod from "Vulnerable" to "Least Concern" globally. However, this downgrade was due to improved data rather than a recovery of the species; many conservationists warn that at least three subpopulations remain at high risk of extinction. It is protected under CITES Appendix II, and in Argentina, it is still classified as "Vulnerable".
Similar Species:
Leopardus colocola - Pampas Cat
Leopardus geoffroyi - Geoffroy's Cat
Other Details:
- Etymology: The name "Kodkod" is believed to be a mispronunciation of Colocolo, the Mapuche term for a different cat. The local name Güiña is widely used in Chile.
- Ecological Niche: They serve as an "indicator species" for the health of South American temperate forests; their presence usually signifies a well-preserved forest understory.