Margay[1]
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Leopardus
Species:	L. wiedii
Binomial name
Leopardus wiedii (Schinz, 1821)
Margay range
Synonyms
Felis wiedii

The Margay (Leopardus wiedii) is a spotted cat native to Middle and South America. Named for Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied,^[3] it is a solitary and nocturnal animal that prefers remote sections of the rainforest. Although it was once believed to be vulnerable to extinction, the IUCN now lists it as "Near Threatened".^[2] It roams the rainforests from Mexico to Argentina.

Physical characteristics[link]

A margay at Edinburgh Zoo

The margay is very similar to the larger ocelot in appearance, although the head is a little shorter, the eyes larger, and the tail and legs longer. It weighs from 2.6 to 4 kilograms (5.7 to 8.8 lb), with a body length of 48 to 79 centimetres (19 to 31 in), and a tail length of 33 to 51 centimetres (13 to 20 in). Unlike most other cats, the female possesses only two teats.^[4]

The fur is brown in color, and marked with numerous rows of dark brown or black rosettes and longitudinal streaks. The undersides are paler, ranging from buff to white, and the tail has numerous dark bands and a black tip. The backs of the ears are black with circular white markings in the centre.^[4]

Most notably the margay is a much more skillful climber than its relative, and it is sometimes called the tree ocelot because of this ability. Whereas the ocelot mostly pursues prey on the ground, the margay may spend its entire life in the trees, leaping after and chasing birds and monkeys through the treetops. Indeed, it is one of only two cat species^[4] with the ankle flexibility necessary to climb head-first down trees (the other being the clouded leopard). It is remarkably agile; its ankles can turn up to 180 degrees,^[5] it can grasp branches equally well with its fore and hind paws, and it is able to jump up to 12 feet (3.7 m) horizontally.^[4] The margay has been observed to hang from branches with only one foot.

Distribution and habitat[link]

The margay is found from southern Mexico, through Central America and in northern South America east of the Andes. The southern edge of its range reaches Uruguay and northern Argentina. They are found almost exclusively in areas of dense forest, ranging from tropical evergreen forest to tropical dry forest and high cloud forest. Margays have sometimes also been observed in coffee and cocoa plantations.^[4]

Diet[link]

Margay in Summit Municipal Parque, Panama

Because the margay is mostly nocturnal and is naturally rare in its environment, most dietary studies have been based on stomach contents and fecal analysis. This cat eats small mammals (sometimes including monkeys), birds, eggs, lizards and tree frogs.^[6] It may also eat grass and other vegetation, most likely to help digestion. A 2006 report about a margay chasing squirrels in its natural environment confirmed the margay is able to hunt its prey entirely in trees.^[7] However, margays do sometimes hunt on the ground, and have been reported to eat terrestrial prey, such as cane rats and guinea pigs.^[4]

There has been one report of a margay using auditory mimicry to try to lure one of its prey. A margay was observed to imitate the call of a pied tamarin infant while in the presence of a group of adult tamarins, leading the adults to investigate. While the margay was not successful in catching one of the monkeys, this represents the first observation of a Neotropical predator employing this type of mimicry.^[8][9]

Behavior[link]

Margays are primarily nocturnal, although in some areas, they have also been observed to hunt during the day. They prefer to spend most of their life in the trees, but also travel across the ground, especially when moving between hunting areas. During the day, they rest in relatively inaccessible branches or clumps of lianas.

Like most cats, they are solitary, with the adults only commonly meeting to mate. They are sparsely distributed even within their natural environment, occupying relatively large home ranges of 11 to 16 square kilometres (4.2 to 6.2 sq mi). They use scent marking to indicate their territory, including urine spraying and leaving scratch marks on the ground or on branches. Their vocalisations all appear to be short range; they do not call to each other over long distances.^[4]

Margays have recently been discovered to hunt by mimicking the vocalisation of a prey species, Wild Pied Tamarin (Saguinus bicolor),^[10] which has been compared by scientists to tool-use by monkeys.^[11]

Reproduction and life cycle[link]

Female margays are in estrus for four to ten days over a cycle of 32 to 36 days, during which they attract males with a long, moaning call. The male responds by yelping or making trilling sounds, and also by rapidly shaking his head from side to side, a behavior not seen in any other cat species. Copulation lasts up to sixty seconds, and is similar to that in domestic cats; it takes place primarily in the trees, and occurs several times while the female is in heat.^[4]

Gestation lasts about 80 days, and results in the birth of only a single kitten (or, very rarely, two), usually between March and June. The kittens weigh 85 to 170 grams (3.0 to 6.0 oz) at birth. This is relatively large for a small cat, and is probably related to the long gestation period. The kittens open their eyes at around two weeks of age, and begin to take solid food at seven to eight weeks.^[4]

Margays reach sexual maturity at twelve to eighteen months of age, and have been reported to live up to twenty-four years in captivity.^[4]

Subspecies[link]

These are the currently recognized subspecies:^[1]

• Leopardus wiedii wiedii, eastern and central Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, northern Argentina
• Leopardus wiedii amazonicus, western Brazil, inner parts of Peru, Colombia and Venezuela
• Leopardus wiedii boliviae, Bolivia - also known as the "ocelittle"
• Leopardus wiedii cooperi, northern Mexico
• Leopardus wiedii glauculus, central Mexico
• Leopardus wiedii nicaraguae, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
• Leopardus wiedii oaxacensis, southern Mexico
• Leopardus wiedii pirrensis, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
• Leopardus wiedii salvinius, Chiapas, Guatemala, El Salvador
• Leopardus wiedii yucatanicus, Yucatán

References[link]

External links[link]

• Smithsonian Institution - North American Mammals: Leopardus wiedii
• Smithsonian Wild: Leopardus wiedii
• Ecology of the Ocelot and Margay

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Jassi Sidhu (b.1978, Birmingham, West Midlands, England) is a Bhangra singer and the former lead singer of British Indian bhangra band B21. He split from the group, declaring that they would "never, ever reconcile"^[1] and that "(B21 was) nothing more than a glorified mime act",^[2] quoting differences between himself and Bally Jagpal.

He has released three solo albums to date. Reality check in 2003, No Strings Attached in 2005, and The New Adventures of Jassi Sidhu in 2008.

Sidhu was born and raised in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, and now has a blossoming solo career, having toured many countries since going solo from the US to the Far East. He is an avid Liverpool Fc fan.

Since departing from B21, Jassi Sidhu has released 4 solo albums and one greatest hits album. His debut album titled Reality Check was released in 2003, and contained 10 brand new songs. This release landed him a place in India, it was the first step for him to cement his name as a solo act. The album contained 7 songs and 3 remixes. Some would argue that it has the "b21" sound left over as he had used the left over beats.

His second album called No Strings Attached was released in 2005, and also contained 10 brand new songs. This time round Jassi Sidhu thought out of the box and created a rock ballet type of song called honkeh. The album was fairly successful and it did help him get more people to take him seriously as a solo artist, however it was not as good as his original debut.

The Greatest Hits album was filled with 8 songs. Jassi Sidhu had redone three of the songs, Chandigarh, Din raat and Bhabi e.g. changing the music etc. the other 5 songs had the same music but saw Jassi Sidhu resinging them.

Jassi Sidhus latest offering was called "Ke Kehne" and was released in 2008. This album has 10 new songs and 2 remixes. This time, we see Jassi team up with Mr "MBE" Malkit Singh, the guy who has had lots of hits in the past. Jassi Sidhu also teams up with producer and friend Rishi Rich, as well as the man behind the smash hit Tharti Hilde and Sher Punjabi Mr Aman Hayer.

In April 2009, Jassi Sidhu released, Jassi What Happened?, an album comprising all his hits in live version recorded in the studio. It also came with a bonus DVD.

Singing Between The Lines was released for Digital Download on iTunes on 18 May 2011 and the CD released a week later. Singing Between The Lines contains 12 mind blowing tracks from the well known Bhangra artist.^[3]

He appeared on the Bhangra Breakdown show in May 2011 on the BBC Asian Network and publicly declared that this would be his last ever album although he did not rule out singing occasional songs on other artists album. The reason he gave was that he wanted to quite the Bhangra industry after 20 years (which is how long he would have spent in 3 years time) and try something new. Time will tell if this happens...

Discography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jassi Sidhu Official Website.
• Jassi Sidhu official myspace site.
• Jassi Sidhu live at Bradford Mela 2008.