Geoffroy's Cat Research Articles

Home range and habitat use by Geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) in a wet grassland in Argentina

AbstractGeoffroy's cat Oncifelis geoffroyi is a little‐known South American small felid. We report data on the spatial ecology of four adults (two males and two females) that were radiotracked in an area of wet grassland of the Argentine Pampas from February 2000 to April 2001. The mean home range size varied from 248 ha [90% minimum convex polygon (MCP)] to 342 ha (100% MCP), with male home ranges c. 2.5 larger than those of females. Home range overlap averaged 44.7%, and was more extensive between males than between females but it decreased markedly when outliers were excluded. Forest patches were used more than expected by their availability within home ranges. These patches hosted many large defecation sites, possibly acting as ‘communication centres’ where information was exchanged among individuals in the form of scent marks. Despite the lack of a clear preference for tall grasslands, this was the most frequently used habitat. We argue that natural grasslands in the Pampas ecoregion are important for O. geoffroyi and that their alteration can affect the conservation status of this cat. The comparison of our data with those reported previously suggests that Geoffroy's cat can show a certain degree of flexibility in its spatial behaviour.

Seroprevalence and Genomic Divergence of Circulating Strains of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus among Felidae and Hyaenidae Species

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infects numerous wild and domestic feline species and is closely related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Species-specific strains of FIV have been described for domestic cat (Felis catus), puma (Puma concolor), lion (Panthera leo), leopard (Panthera pardus), and Pallas' cat (Otocolobus manul). Here, we employ a three-antigen Western blot screening (domestic cat, puma, and lion FIV antigens) and PCR analysis to survey worldwide prevalence, distribution, and genomic differentiation of FIV based on 3,055 specimens from 35 Felidae and 3 Hyaenidae species. Although FIV infects a wide variety of host species, it is confirmed to be endemic in free-ranging populations of nine Felidae and one Hyaenidae species. These include the large African carnivores (lion, leopard, cheetah, and spotted hyena), where FIV is widely distributed in multiple populations; most of the South American felids (puma, jaguar, ocelot, margay, Geoffroy's cat, and tigrina), which maintain a lower FIV-positive level throughout their range; and two Asian species, the Pallas' cat, which has a species-specific strain of FIV, and the leopard cat, which has a domestic cat FIV strain in one population. Phylogenetic analysis of FIV proviral sequence demonstrates that most species for which FIV is endemic harbor monophyletic, genetically distinct species-specific FIV strains, suggesting that FIV transfer between cat species has occurred in the past but is quite infrequent today.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) on wild carnivores in Brazil

The present study reports field data of ticks infesting wild carnivores captured from July 1998 to September 2004 in Brazil. Additional data were obtained from one tick collection and from previous published data of ticks on carnivores in Brazil. During field work, a total of 3437 ticks were collected from 89 Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox), 58 Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf), 30 Puma concolor (puma), 26 Panthera onca (jaguar), 12 Procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon), 4 Speothos venaticus (bush dog), 6 Pseudalopex vetulus (hoary fox), 6 Nasua nasua (coati), 6 Leopardus pardalis (ocelot), 2 Leopardus tigrinus (oncilla), 1 Leopardus wiedii (margay), 1 Herpailurus yagouaroundi (jaguarundi), 1 Oncifelis colocolo (pampas cat), 1 Eira barbara (tayara), 1 Galictis vittata (grison), 1 Lontra longicaudis (neotropical otter), and 1 Potus flavus (kinkajou). Data obtained from the Acari Collection IBSP included a total of 381 tick specimens collected on 13 C. thous, 8 C. brachyurus, 3 P. concolor, 10 P. onca, 3 P. cancrivorus, 4 N. nasua, 1 L. pardalis, 1 L. wiedii, 4 H. yagouaroundi, 1 Galictis cuja (lesser grison), and 1 L. longicaudis. The only tick-infested carnivore species previously reported in Brazil, for which we do not present any field data are Pseudalopex gymnocercus (pampas fox), Conepatus chinga (Molina's hog-nosed skunk), and Conepatus semistriatus (striped hog-nosed skunk). We report the first tick records in Brazil on two Felidae species (O. colocolo, H. yagouaroundi), two Canidae species (P. vetulus, S. venaticus), one Procyonidae species (P. flavus) and one Mustelidae (E. barbara). Tick infestation remains unreported for 5 of the 26 Carnivora species native in Brazil: Oncifelis geoffroyi (Geoffroy's cat), Atelocynus microtis (short-eared dog), Pteronura brasiliensis (giant otter), Mustela africana (Amazon weasel), and Bassaricyon gabbii (olingo). Our field data comprise 16 tick species represented by the genera Amblyomma (12 species), Ixodes (1 species), Dermacentor (1 species), Rhipicephalus (1 species), and Boophilus (1 species). Additional 5 tick species (3 Amblyomma species and 1 species from each of the genera Ixodes and Ornithodoros) were reported in the literature. The most common ticks on Carnivora hosts were Amblyomma ovale (found on 14 host species), Amblyomma cajennense (10 species), Amblyomma aureolatum (10 species), Amblyomma tigrinum (7 species), Amblyomma parvum (7 species), and Boophilus microplus (7 species).

GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION IN THE DIET OF GEOFFROY'S CAT (ONCIFELIS GEOFFROYI) IN PAMPAS GRASSLAND OF ARGENTINA

Geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) is a little-known South American felid. We report here the first detailed data on its food habits and variations among 3 areas of the Argentine Pampas grassland. Analysis of 421 scat samples showed a relatively narrow trophic niche, dominated by vertebrates, especially small rodents. Despite a wide overlap in diet composition, geographical variation was found in frequency of occurrence of primary food categories, presence of secondary food items, and mean weight of vertebrate prey. These differences seem to be related to variation in food availability and suggest that Geoffroy's cats are able to show a certain degree of adaptability in foraging behavior.

Ecological extinction of native prey of a carnivore assemblage in Argentine Patagonia

The Patagonia region of South America has been severely modified by the introduction of livestock and wild exotic species. We studied diets of culpeo foxes ( Pseudalopex culpaeus), chilla foxes ( P. griseus), hog-nosed skunks ( Conepatus chinga), Geoffroy's cats ( Oncifelis geoffroyi), and pumas ( Puma concolor) between 1989 and 1994, and evaluated prey biomass on rangelands in Neuquén, Argentina. The carnivores consumed primarily (and selected) introduced hares ( Lepus europaeus), red deer ( Cervus elaphus), or carrion of introduced species. Native species represented 6% of the potential-prey biomass, and similar percentages of carnivore diets. We conclude that native large-bodied species (guanacos, Lama guanicoe, and rheas, Pterocnemia pennata) are ecologically extinct as prey and sources of carrion in our study area, and likely throughout Argentine Patagonia. Other ecological implications of their currently low biomass are unknown. Measures to control introduced species, prevent new introductions, and create protected areas are urgently needed.

Shedding of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts by Felidae in zoos in the Czech Republic

In 1995 and 1996, the shedding of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts was monitored in the faeces of Felidae in six zoos in the Czech Republic. In all, 2287 samples of faeces from 19 species of Felidae were examined. In Ostrava Zoo, four episodes of shedding of Toxoplasma-like oocysts were identified, using a flotation examination, in a pair of wild cats (Felis silvestris), six episodes in a wild cat held separately, and three episodes in a pair of Amur leopard cats (F. euptilurus). After the passage of sporulated oocysts through laboratory mice, T. gondii was confirmed in the pair of wild cats (three episodes), in the wild cat held separately (three episodes) and in the pair of Amur leopard cats (one episode). In Jihlava Zoo, one episode of shedding of T. gondii oocyst was identified in Geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) using flotation and isolation examination. The possible sources of toxoplasmosis of the Felidae in zoos are discussed.

Nature and origin of polymorphism in feline MHC class II DRA and DRB genes.

Transcripts of the MHC class II DRA and DRB gene homologues of the domestic cat (Felis catus) were cloned and sequenced to compare the pattern and process of DR gene divergence. Homologous DRB exon 2 sequences from 36 feral domestic cats throughout the world plus from three species of Felidae (tiger cat, Iriomote cat, and Geoffroy's cat) were also determined. Limited variation in the domestic cat Feca-DRA gene was observed, but abundant variation in the Feca-DRB gene was seen comprising 61 distinct DRB alleles. Phylogenetic analyses resolved at least five monophyletic feline DRB allelic lineages (DRB*1 to *5), which are clearly distinct from those of human (HLA-DRB1 to 9 lineages), mouse (H-2Ebeta b, u, f), and dog DRB alleles. Approximately 80% of individual cats contained three to six distinct DRB sequences, indicating that feline MHC maintains two to three DRB loci. Five cats had three DRB sequences in a single allelic lineage, indicating the occurrence of recent gene duplication of feline DRB genes. DRB sequences isolated from three exotic cats demonstrated close association with a particular domestic cat DRB lineage, suggesting that these allelic lineages are derived from common ancestral alleles that existed prior to the divergence of these feline species about 10 to 15 million years ago. Patterns of synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution rates that occurred in Ag recognition sites (ARS) and nonrecognition (NAR) sites demonstrated a strong role of natural selection--positive selection for Ag recognition sites and negative selection for nonrecognition sites of feline DRB sequences--in the process of evolution of DR molecules.

Breeding and maternal behaviour in Geoffroy's cats Oncifelis geoffroyi

Over a 3 year period ten Geoffroy's cat Oncifelis geoffroyi at four zoos were videotaped, producing 4278 hours of behavioural data including 15 oestrous periods, five gestation periods, five births and four post‐partum periods. One‐hundred‐and‐one separate behaviours were described and analysed, providing a behavioural profile of the species which enabled the construction of time budgets and an analysis of enclosure usage. Geoffroy's cats were found to be crepuscular. Most activity occurred on the ground and ledges were only used for resting and trees were used as pathways from the ground to the ledges. The Geoffroy's cats were found to be mostly sedentary with much social grooming between ♂♂ and ♀♀ Stereotypic and aggressive behaviours were rare. Females were more gregarious than ♂♂ Several interesting behaviours with ecological implications are discussed. Captive cats exhibited oestrus all year round, with a peak between February and August, and were polyoestrus. Mean age of sexual maturity reported by ISIS was 50 months for ♂♂ and 47 months for ♀♀ and breeding could continue until 16 years of age or older. A pre‐oestrous period could be predicted from behaviour up to 14 days before oestrus. The length of oestrus (1–12 days) showed some relationship to the age of the ♀. The predominance of social behaviour and the lack of courtship behaviours indicated a possible pair‐bond in the species. Frequency and duration of mounting and intromission during mating showed some relationship with age of the ♂ and the length of time the pair had been housed together. Birth peaks were between April and October and the gestation period ranged from 66 to 72 days. Parturition could be predicted from behaviour up to 14 days before birth. Interbirth period, mean litter size, total infant mortality and ♂ infant mortality showed some relationship to the age and parity of the ♀ Behavioural development of infants is documented and the data are used to make recommendations for the successful management and breeding of this species.

Molecular Phylogeny of Mitochondrial Cytochrome b and 12S rRNA Sequences in the Felidae: Ocelot and Domestic Cat Lineages

Molecular phylogeny of the cat family Felidae is derived using two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b and 12S rRNA. Phylogenetic methods of weighted maximum parsimony and minimum evolution estimated by neighbor-joining are employed to reconstruct topologies among 20 extant felid species. Sequence analyses of 363 bp of cytochrome b and 376 bp of the 12S rRNA genes yielded average pair-wise similarity values between felids ranging from 94 to 99% and from 85 to 99%, respectively. Phylogenetic reconstruction supports more recent, intralineage associations but fails to completely resolve interlineage relationships. Both genes produce a monophyletic group ofFelisspecies but vary in the placement of the pallas cat. The ocelot lineage represents an early divergence within the Felidae, with strong associations between ocelot and margay, Geoffroy's cat and kodkod, and pampas cat and tigrina. Implications of the relative recency of felid evolution, presence of ancestral polymorphisms, and influence of outgroups in placement of the topological root are discussed.

Resolution of recent radiations within three evolutionary lineages of felidae using mitochondrial restriction fragment length polymorphism variation

Patterns of mitochondrial restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) variation were used to resolve more recent relationships among the species of the Felidae ocelot lineage, domestic cat lineage, and pantherine lineage. Twenty-five of 28 restriction enzymes revealed site variation in at least 1 of 21 cat species. The ocelot lineage was resolved into three separate sistertaxa groups: Geoffroy's cat (Oncifelis geoffroyi) and kodkod (O. guigna), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and margay (L. wiedii), and pampas cat (Lynchailurus colocolo) and most of the tigrina samples (Leopardus tigrina). Within the domestic cat lineage, domestic cat (Felis catus), European wild cat (F. silvestris), and African wild cat (F. libyca) formed a monophyletic trichotomy, which was joined with sand cat (F. margarita) to a common ancestor. Jungle cat (F. chaus) and black-footed cat (F. nigripes) mtDNAs diverged earlier than those of the other domestic cat lineage species and are less closely related. Within the pantherine lineage, phylogenetic analysis identified two distinct groups, uniting lion (P. leo) with leopard (P. pardus) and tiger (P. tigris) with snow leopard (P. uncia).

Phylogenetic reconstruction of South American felids defined by protein electrophoresis.

Phylogenetic associations among six closely related South American felid species were defined by changes in protein-encoding gene loci. We analyzed proteins isolated from skin fibroblasts using two-dimensional electrophoresis and allozymes extracted from blood cells. Genotypes were determined for multiple individuals of ocelot, margay, tigrina, Geoffroy's cat, kodkod, and pampas cat at 548 loci resolved by two-dimensional electrophoresis and 44 allozyme loci. Phenograms were constructed using the methods of Fitch-Margoliash and neighbor-joining on a matrix of Nei's unbiased genetic distances for all pairs of species. Results of a relative-rate test indicate changes in two-dimensional electrophoresis data are constant among all South American felids with respect to a hyena outgroup. Allelic frequencies were transformed to discrete character states for maximum parsimony analysis. Phylogenetic reconstruction indicates a major split occurred approximately 5-6 million years ago, leading to three groups within the ocelot lineage. The earliest divergence led to Leopardus tigrina, followed by a split between an ancestor of an unresolved trichotomy of three species (Oncifelis guigna, O. geoffroyi, and Lynchailuris colocolo) and a recent common ancestor of Leopardus pardalis and L. wiedii. The results suggest that modern South American felids are monophyletic and evolved rapidly after the formation of the Panama land bridge between North and South America.

Urinary monitoring of adrenal responses to psychological stressors in domestic and nondomestic felids

AbstractThe potential of assessing adrenal responses to psychological stressors through the radioimmunoassay of free cortisol in urine was examined in the domestic cat (Felis catus) and in three nondomestic felid species (Felis geoffroyi, Felis bengalensis, and Felis concolor). To determine the approximate clearance rate of an acute increase in glucocorticoid secretion, serial plasma and bladder urine samples were collected from eight domestic cats after a 0.125 mg adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. Within 30 min of administration, mean serum cortisol concentrations increased tenfold. Urinary cortisol concentrations increased twofold by 2 hr post‐ACTH and were correlated with the serum responses. Also, 16 domestic cats were anesthetized, injected with 0.125 mg ACTH, and serially bled for 3 hr. All urine was collected for 24 hr post‐ACTH. Urinary cortisol concentrations were significantly elevated compared to pretreatment concentrations and were correlated to the serum cortisol response (net area under the response curve). In another experiment, urine was collected daily for a 7‐day baseline period from 16 domestic cats housed in standard laboratory cages. Subsequently, 8 cats were subjected to 8 consecutive days of “stress,” consisting of relocation, physical restraint, and jugular venipuncture. The other 8 cats were‐neither moved, nor handled, nor bled for the same period of time. Two patterns of response were observed among the “stressed” cats: urinary cortisol concentrations either increased or decreased between baseline and treatment periods. These response profiles differed from those of controls, which remained basal and unchanged over time. A fourth experiment involved relocating a female Geoffroy's cat, 4 leopard cats, and 2 pumas to a novel environment for 8–10 days. Urinary cortisol concentrations rose on the first day of relocation and remained elevated above baseline for 5–7 days. Overall, these data suggest that adrenal responsiveness to psychological stressors in these four felid species can be assessed noninvasively by measuring coritsol in 24‐hr urine samples. This research strategy may be useful for optimizing captive habitats to improve overall animal welfare and/or reproductive performance. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Feeding and Spatial Ecology of Felis geoffroyi in Southern Patagonia

Geoffroy's cat (Felis geoffroyi) is distributed from southern Bolivia and the Parana Basin of southern Brazil to the southern tip of Patagonia in Chile and Argentina (Cabrera, 1957; Ximenez, 1975). In 1980, this spotted cat became the most commonly traded felid species in the world (MacMahan, 1986) with more than 450,000 skins exported from 1976 to 1980 from Argentina alone (Fujita and Calvo, 1982). Despite its economic importance, almost nothing is known about the biology and ecology of the species, especially in its native South American habitat. In Chile, where Geoffroy's cat is classified as endangered, research on this species is considered to be a priority (Glade, 1988). The only published field study was the report of the home range of one subadult female in Paraguay based on 12 radiotelemetry relocations (Berrie, 1978). The goal of our study was to obtain basic ecological information on Geoffroy's cat in the southern portion of its distribution. Specific objectives were to describe home-range sizes and distribution patterns, habitat use, activity patterns, and food habits of Geoffroy's cat. The study was conducted from 1986 through 1989 in the eastern part of Torres del Paine National Park (51*3'S, 72*55'W), an International Man and Biosphere Reserve located in the eastern foothills of the Andean mountain range in southern Chile. The park encompasses 2,400 km2 and provides almost undisturbed habitat for wildlife. The park has a high heterogeneity of plant associations and habitats from glacier-covered mountains to dense Nothofagus deciduous forest and grassland. Approximately 70% consists of a steppe biome, or pre-Andean, dry-shrub association, and the remainder is a mosaic of lakes, forests, and aridmountain alpine zones. The steppe is characteristic of the pampa of southern South America, found in Chile and Argentina at elevations <500 m (Pisano, 1973, 1974). The locally dominant species of this biome (or association) is mata barrosa (Mulinum spinosum), a spiny, dome-shaped shrub, common in thin, rocky upland, and rapidly draining soils and mata negra (Verbena tridens), a 1to 1.5-m shrub covering large areas. Other common species are senecio (Senecio patagonicus), calafate (Berberis buxifolia), and paramela (Adesmia boronoides). The woodland areas are dominated by two medium-sized species of trees, fiirre (Nothofagus antarctica) and lenga (N. pumilio). The dominant grass species in the study area are Festuca gracillina, Anarthrophyllum patagonicum, and F. palliscens, in order of decreasing cover (Ortega and Franklin, 1988; Pisano, 1973, 1974; Texera, 1973). The park has a high diversity of mammalian species (Johnson et al., 1990). Potential mammalian prey species included the introduced European hare (Lepus capensis) and several cricetine rodents such as Auliscomys micropus, Oryzomys longicaudatus, Phyllotis darwini, Reithrodon physodes, and several species of Akodon. Numerous avian species also were potential prey items for Geoffroy's cat, such as the upland goose (Chloephaga picta), austral parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus), and eared dove (Zenaida auriculata). The puma (Felis concolor), culpeo fox (Dusicyon culpaeus), chilla fox (D. griseus), Patagonia hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus humboldtii), Patagonia weasel (Lyncodon patagonicus), and several raptors, including the great-horned owl (Bubo virginianus) and black-chested buzzard-eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus), were potential competitors. There are two general climatic periods, a relatively cold, dry, typically windless season from May through September (July mean temperature = 0.20C) and a relatively warm, windy, rainy season from October through April (January mean temperature = 12.60C). Mean annual precipitation is 550 mm, with 60% falling from January to May (Pisano, 1974). Adjacent mountains and ice fields create local weather patterns as reflected by a large variability in precipitation (Pisano, 1974). Geoffroy's cats were captured either in padded leg-hold traps (Victor no. I1? soft-catch coil spring) or in trees by use of trained hunting dogs and immobilized with ketamine hydrochloride (Ramsden et al., 1976)

Echinococcus oligarthrus Cysts of Rabbits in Venezuela

The life cycle of Echinococcus oligarthrus (Cestoda: Taeniidae) involves wild felids including the jaguar (Felis onca), puma (F. concolor) Geoffroy's cat (Schantz and Colli, 1973, J. Parasit. 59: 1138-1140), and wild cats (F. yagouaroundi) as definitive hosts, and the paca (Cuniculis paca), the agouti or Venezuelan picure (Dasyprocta sp.), the spiny rat (Proechimys sp.), and opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) as intermediate hosts (Thatcher, 1972, Ann. trop. Med. Parasit. 66: 99-105; D'Alessandro et al., 1981, Am. J. trop. Med. Hyg. 30: 1263-1276). Of the two neotropical species of Echinococcus that parasitize wild animals, E. oligarthrus and E. vogeli, the latter is also responsible for causing the polycystic hidatid disease (PHD) in humans in Colombia and neighboring countries (D'Alessandro et al., 1979, Am. J. trop. Med. Hyg. 28: 303317). Echinococcus vogeli is consequently a more important cestode, and has been widely studied. The larval stage of E. oligarthrus was not weli known until a differential study with the larval stage of E. vogeli was recently published (Rausch et al., 1978, Am. J. trop. Med. Hyg. 27: 11951202). This comparative study was based on the length of the rostellar hooks of protoscolices found in the cysts, a parameter considered as a suitable and reliable criteria for identifying larval stages of Echinococcus (Rausch et al., 1978, loc. cit.). We report 2 cases of E. oligarthrus cysts found in adult wild rabbits (Sylvilagusfloridanus) hunted in Lara State, in the West-central region of Venezuela. Case one: An adult male wild rabbit was

Breeding the Geoffroy's cat at Glasgow Zoo

Breeding the Geoffroy's cat at Glasgow Zoo