Big Cats!

The margay is a new world cat and mostly nocturnal; it is territorial, arboreal and solitary. It is the most arboreal of the new world cats. The margay´s leaping ability is phenomenal: it can jump vertically 8 feet in a single bound! Its hind ankles are unusually flexible, thanks to a peculiar arrangement of its metatarsal bones. This feature is shared with squirrels and some raccoon relatives but is unique in the cat world. It allows the hindfeet to supinate (rotate) 108° so the margay can grip tree limbs firmly, even when it’s coming down tree trunks headfirst.

The margay is an excellent hunter; it eats many vertebrates like monkeys, sloths, rats, rodents, and also insects, fruits and sometimes leaves. It is a species that is often difficult to see.

The margay has been seen at night in the reserve of Arenas del Mar and the mountains surrounding the property.