5 Magnificent Mammals of Colombia l Astounding

We greatly hope that you will enjoy reading, and hopefully learning from, this article about these 5 Magnificent Mammals of Colombia. It was certainly our great pleasure to compile that data for you. May it fill you will an appreciation of the wonders of Nature.

Understandably, the animals presented herein represent only the smallest part of the fauna found in this region. It’s our opinion, however, that these serve as excellent examples of the types of species to be seen. You’ll also find other such marvels in our other articles.

Margay

Margay Facts

Leading off this article about 5 Magnificent Mammals of Colombia we present to you the gorgeous will feline known simply as the Margay.
Perhaps most notably, the short term for it serves as the generally accepted common name of a truly stunning species of wildcat. The magnificent feline also goes by the hard to pronounce scientific name of the Leopardus wiedii, however.
Regardless of the name one uses to refer to it, though, the creature remains an impressive animal, for many reasons. To begin with, this remarkable feline also remains a predominantly nocturnal animal within most of its territory.
The species also typically prefers to spend the majority of its time in extremely remote sections within its native range. As a result this stunning marvel of Nature remains rarely seen by casual visitors to the region in which it appears.
Currently, the IUCN lists the marvelous Margay as Near Threatened. Sadly, this unfortunate evaluation of its situation holds true throughout the entirety of its natural range. This status is reflected on the organization’s Red List of Threatened Species.
The highly lamentable situation the beautiful small wildcat finds itself in further occurs due to a combination of several factors. Firstly, in some regions, people still slaughter an average of 14,000 of these beautiful wildcats annually for the fur.
Quite understandably, this regrettable action has resulted in an extreme decrease in its population base. Secondly, the twin perils of habitat loss and climate change continue to present extreme challenges to the reclusive small mammal.

Margay, Leopardus wiedii — Source: http://bit.ly/1mL0gMX Photo: Clement Bardot CCL: http://bit.ly/2IjEG4n

Margay Physical Description

Although it certainly qualifies as an impressive animal, the amazing Margay does not attain this status due to physical size. That’s because the feline only attains a small size in terms of sheer mass. In fact, it reaches a maximum known weight of as much as 8.8 lb (4 kg).

The body length of mature adult specimens further averages about 31 in (79 cm). The tail, meanwhile, somewhat surprisingly grows to a length equal to a significant percentage of the length of the body. This generally measures 20 in (51 cm) in length.

Its fur also displays a distinctive pattern. This consists of a light brown that appears splotched with dark brown or black blotches and streaks. In the meantime, the stomach of this creature generally displays an off-white, and the tail has multiple bands, with a black tip.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the Margay remains the fact that it has a remarkable evolutionary adaptation in its ankles. These evolved to be so flexible that the cats can actually walk down a tree trunk headfirst. It’s one of only two known to possess this ability.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Leopardus
Species: L. wiedii

Margay Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Quite unfortunately, the gorgeous animal known as the Margay only inhabits a relatively small section of the world. This holds true because of the fact that it only appears in a limited area composed of sections of North America, Central America, and South America.

However, evidence also indicates that this beautiful creature once ranged as far north as the states of Georgia and Florida, in the United States. Even within this range of habitation, though, amazing the creature has very specific preferences for its choice of habitat.

That’s true, first, since this truly amazing wildcat lives almost exclusively in areas of dense forest. Second, though, this includes such typical habitats as the numerous prominent tropical dry forests, evergreen forests, and cloud forests, sometimes known as fog forest.

The beautiful and truly remarkable Margay also evolved to be principally arboreal in its base nature, quite amazingly. In point of fact, and incredibly, the great majority of individuals often spend their entire lives within the canopy, never coming down.

Finally, the tantalizing wildcat also occasionally establishes its territory in a somewhat hard to believe location. To the amazement of many people, this consists of commercial plantations. Unfortunately, this only further increases its vulnerability to hunting.

Southern Tamandua

Southern Tamandua Facts

Next up in this listing of 5 Magnificent Mammals of Colombia comes the distinctively formed animal known as the Southern Tamandua.
Individuals who know of this fascinating creature most often refer to it by this common name. Yet the amazing animal also has several other, less often used, names. These alternate terms include that of the lesser anteater and the collared anteater.
Among professional researchers, however, the remarkable mammal goes by yet another term, its scientific name. That, though, remains somewhat hard to pronounce. That’s because the official name for the animal is a rather tongue-twisting term.
Regardless of whether one refers to it by the technical name of Tamandua tetradactyla, or one of the common terms, though, one fact remains paramount. That’s the undeniable fact that, to those who appreciate Nature, it’s an interesting species.
The first known recognition of this remarkable work of evolution as a separate and distinct species also took place in the year 1758. This scientifically noteworthy action further took place due to the efforts of the Swedish researcher, Carl Linnaeus.
For the moment, the Southern Tamandua seems to be maintaining a relatively stable, if scattered, population base. This further appears to hold true throughout the entirety of its range. The IUCN, therefore, currently lists it as Least Concern on its Red List.
It does face its share of threats, of course. In the short term, it’s endangered by hunters, who kill the creature, claiming it kills their dogs. Local people also kill them, to make rope from the tendons in their tail. And of course, climate change now threatens it.

Southern Tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla — Source: https://bit.ly/3deszpK Photo: Bernard DUPONT CCL: https://bit.ly/3jfw2bz

Southern Tamandua Physical Description

Among its many relatives, collectively known as anteaters, the Southern Tamandua ranks as a roughly medium-sized species, overall. Exact physical size also varies quite significantly, between individuals. This principlly occurs due to their environmental factors.

The animal does not, however, exhibit any noticeable degree of the physiological trait of sexual dimorphism. Due to this, individuals of both genders range in head and body length from 13 – 35 in (34 – 88 cm). Its prehensile tail adds another 15 – 26 in (37 – 67 cm).

The weights of mature adults also varies significantly, and again does so regardless of gender. Fully grown adults of either sex, therefore, range in weight from 3.3 – 18.5 lb (1.5 – 8.4 kg). Though not unknown, such extreme variation in size remains fairly uncommon.

Its snout doubtless qualifies as its most noticeable feature, much like its relatives. This develops as highly elongated, thin, and tapering toward the end. It also has 4 claws on its front feet, but five on the rear feet. The tip and underside of the tail develop hairless.

The fascinating mammal possesses yet one more trait to amaze those who learn of it. Uniquely, the basic coloring of the Southern Tamandua also varies within its territorial range. This trait further distinguishes it from the majority, though not all, of other mammals.

That’s because individuals in one part of its range develop as almost entirely blonde in color. Those in another region, meanwhile, may be either brown, blonde or black. But in the other portion of the mammals’ natural range, specimens display tan, brown, and blonde.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pilosa
Family: Mermicophagidae
Genus: Tamandua
Species: T. tetradactyla

Southern Tamandua Distribution, Range, and Habitat

Though its population groupings appear in scattered concentrations, it has one advantage. That’s due to the fact that it evolved as native to a relatively large portion of the globe. That endemic territorial range includes the majority of the continent of South America.

The remarkabale creature also inhabits the island of Trinidad. Wherever it makes its home, however, it displays decided preferences in its choice of habitat. Fortunately, Nature evolved it into a highly versatile species, capable of existing in several types of habitat.

As a result of this respectable, and beneficial, versatility, individuals and groups appear throughout the entire region. The intrepid animal makes it home in regions of both dry and wet forests. This includes tropical rainforest, savanna, and even areas of thorn scrub.

It further manifests a remarkably strong preference for areas near rivers and streams. There, it especially likes a strong presence of air plants and vines. Experts additionally believe this to be because much of its natural prey also prefers this particular type of habitat.

It’s primarily a solitary creature, in addition to being mainly nocturnal in its habits. It will, however, occasionally display daytime activities. It mainly builds a nest in the trunks of hollow trees, or, on occasion, burrows of other animals that have been abandoned.

The Southern Tamandua also lives a primarily arboreal life, and becomes quite clumsy on the ground. The diet of the animal consists almost entirely of termites and ants. Individuals do, however, occasionally supplement this with relatively small amounts of fruit.

Cougar Facts

Appearing in the third spot among these 5 Magnificent Mammals of Colombia, the stunning Cougar does so only due to random selection.
The short name given it serves as but one of the common names assigned to this magnificent wild feline. It other common names include the mountain lion, puma, painter, panther, and catamount. The variety of names occur due to its wide range.
Scientists, meanwhile, know the stunning feline by the term Puma concolor. Regardless of the name one uses for it, the animal remains one of the most recognizable of the smaller wild felines. It’s also the most widespread of any in its Hemisphere.
The renowned Swedish zoologist, Carl Linnaeus, holds the credit for the first acknowledged scientific recognition and naming of the species. This achievement he accomplished in 1771. The name he chose, however, later changed several times.
This breathtaking feline obviously evolved as a slender and agile member of the cat family. It also holds a unique distinction. That’s because, though not technically one of the so-called big cats, it’s the fourth largest of all known wild felines.
Even though its population doesn’t compare to past numbers, this appears stable throughout its range. The IUCN, therefore, currently lists it as Least Concern. It does face several threats, including the ever-increasing danger posed by climate change.

Cougar, Mountain Lion, Puma concolor — Source: https://bit.ly/3fXjgw9 Public Domain Image

Cougar Physical Description

Unlike some species, the breathtaking Cougar actually impresses us with its size, in addition to other factors. The animal also, however, displays the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism. In this, in fact, it mirrors virtually all know types of feline, wild and domestic.

In its specific case, though, this trait manifests in terms of size, with males of the species attaining slightly greater lengths and weights. Mature adults of both genders, however, vary greatly in height, averaging between 24 -35 in (60 – 90 cm) tall at the shoulders.

In terms of length, meanwhile, is where the size differences appear the most obvious. The males of this feline attain an average nose-to-tail length equaling roughly 7.9 ft (2.4 m). Females, however, generally reach an overall length of about 6.7 ft (2.05 m).

It bears pointing out, though, that of this total measurement, the tail itself comprises 25 – 37 in (63 – 95 cm) of this. The males, meanwhile, typically reach a weight of between 115 – 220 lb (53 – 100 kg). Females, on the other hand, average 64 – 141 lb (29 – 64 kg).

The Cougar also boasts other impressive statistics. Its rounded head displays erect ears. The feline has a jaw and forequarters powerful enough to grasp large prey. It also has five retractable claws on the forepaws, and proportionately the largest hindlegs in the cat family.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Puma
Species: P. concolor

Cougar Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Surprisingly, the gorgeous Cougar inhabits a comparatively large section of the globe. More precisely, it appears in a range that extends from parts of Canada to the Andes in South America. Its greatest concentration, however, remains concentrated in North America.

Aiding in its continued existence as a species is the fact that it evolved as a highly adaptable creature. This flexibility allows it to inhabit a wide variety of habitat types within its native range. Most notably, though, these include forests, lowlands, mountains, and arid climates.

Its incredible physique allows the impressive feline some of the greatest leaping and short-sprint ability of any animal. Individuals have the ability to jump as high as 18 ft (5.5 m) in one bound. These also evolved the capacity to leap as far as 40-45 ft (12-14 m) horizontally.

But Nature did not stop there. This animal also boasts some extremely impressive speeds. The top running velocity of the animal also ranges between 40-50 mph (64-80 kph). They remain, however, best capable of short, powerful sprints as opposed to long chases.

The remarkable Cougar also feeds entirely as a carnivore. As a supremely successful generalist predator, the mammal further feeds opportunistically. Specimens therefore eat any animal they can catch, from insects to large ungulates in excess of 1,100 lbs (500 kg).

Investigations in Yellowstone National Park showed that elk, followed by mule deer, were the animal’s primary targets. The mammal further evolved as adept at climbing, allowing it to evade canine competitors. Although not strongly associated with water, it does swim.

White-Nosed Coati

White-Nosed Coati Facts

Now we present our next choice for inclusion in this compendium of 5 Magnificent Mammals of Colombia, the White-Nosed Coati.
This remarkable mammal is frequently referred to by this common name for good reasons, by those individuals who know of it. It also has yet another common name, though. That’s because some people refer to it by the name of the coatimundi.
In the primary language of the region of the world in which it appears, however, it’s referred to by several other common names, however. Those include the antoon, the pizote, and the tejón, depending upon the individual’s exact local region.
Researchers, meanwhile, typically refer to the creature by its formal scientific name. That’s the relatively easy to pronounce term, as such things go, of the Nasua narica. By either term one chooses to use to refer to it, the animal remains a fascinating species.
The unique animal received its formal name at the hands of the highly renowned Swedish zoologist, botanist, and taxonomist Carl Linnaeus himself. He made the first known formal acknowledgement of it as a separate and distinct species in the year 1766.
Fortunately, both for it and those who appreciate the marvels of Nature, it seems to be maintaining a population base that’s both sizeable and stable. That situation further holds true thoughout the entirety of its known natural zone of habitation.
Due to this situation, the IUCN currently lists the White-nosed Coati as Least Concern on its Red List. Given the nature of its habitat, though, the mammal could face threats in the future. These include habitat loss and the looming threat of climate change.

White-Nosed Coatimundi, Nasua narica — Source: https://bit.ly/3fWuJwc Photo: Charles J. Sharp CCL: https://bit.ly/3ilR7AL

White-Nosed Coati Physical Description

The magnificent White-Nosed Coati classifies as a member of the Procyonidae family, making it a relative of the raccoon. Due to that relationship, the marvelous creature shares many attributes with the raccoon, both physical and in terms of genral behavior.

Physically, however, it displays a larger degree of the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism than most of its relatives. In the case of this specific species, that trait manifests itself in terms of sheer physical size, with the genders displaying the same coloring.

More specifically, the males of this fascinating species attain a significantly larger size than their female counterparts. That’s due to the fact that these weigh as much as 27 lb (12.2 kg). The smaller females, meanwhile, frequently weigh as little as 5.5 lb (2.5 kg).

It’s also well known for its over-sized tail. Between the genders, an average body length equals roughly 1.5 – 2 ft (0.46 – 0.91 m). The remarkable tail, though, typically measures around 2 ft (0.91 m) itself! The combination gives the mammal a highly recognizeable look.

The visually memorable creature possesses relatively long, sharp claws, small ears, and an elongated snout. This feature further tilts up at the end. Both genders have a black mask, with white around the nose, eyes, and inside the ears. Its fur has a brownish background.

Mixed in with the brownish fur of the White-Nosed Coati is a mixture of yellow and red on the upper side of the animal. Underneath, though, it displays a lighter brown shade. The tops of its feet and lower legs, meanwhile, usually develop as brownish-black in color.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Procyanidae
Genus: Nasua
Species: N. narica

White-Nosed Coati Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Fortunately for it, the amazing White-Nosed Coati evolved as native to a comparatively extensive swathe of the globe. That’s because it appears in a zone of habitation that includes Central America, as well as portions of both North America and South America, too.

That range extends as far north as the states of New Mexico and Arizona, in the United States. The southern portion of that range, however, extends all the way to the country of Colombia. There, it appears in the northwestern region, near the border with Panama.

A small population, however, also appears in the state of Florida. Experts, however, consider that population grouping to be an artificially introduced one. The time frame for that introduction remains uncertain, though the earliest recorded sight happened in 1928.

This species strongly prefers to inhabit wooded areas. This includes both moist and dry forests. It further appears to not discriminate in terms of altitude. That’s due to the fact that specimens appear at altitudes ranging from sea level to as high as 9,800 ft (3,000 m).

The White-Nosed Coati evolved as omnivorous in its feeding habits. The prickly pear ranks as one of its favorite foods. Otherwise, the animal consumes a rather wide range of prey. This includes varieties of ants, termites, spiders, grubs, beetles, and even scorpions!

It also employs its long, powerful claws to dig for undrground prey. These consist of a wide range of species, including lizrads, rodents, nuts, fruits, snakes, and on occasion carrion. It’s truly opportunistic, showing no great preference, other than the prickly pear.

It’s mostly active in the daylight hours. Males are generally solitary in nature, while females and their young generally move about in packs. These sometimes number as many as 40 individuals. It’s also both a strong swimmer and climber, usually sleping in trees.

Jaguarundi

Jaguarundi Facts

The final entry into this article about 5 Magnificent Mammals of Colombia is another intriguing feline, the impressive Jaguarundi.
The simple term given it actually serves as the attention-grabbing common name for a truly remarkable species of wild cat. The scientific name of the mammal, however, remains that of the difficult to pronounce Herpailurus yagouaroundi.
By either name, it represents an animal that, sadly, now only shows scattered population groupings. Thus, it remains vulnerable for several reasons. Officials generally fear that these pockets of habitation, unfortunately, seem to be dying out.
As a result, the Jaguarundi now represents a protected species throughout the majority of its native range. But, hunting does not pose its greatest threat. Loss of much of its traditional habitat serves as the principal threat to the existence of this mammal.
In addition, the Amazon Basin currently forms the only region of its range in which the numbers of the awesome Jaguarundi appear to be stable. Despite its somewhat uncertain situation, however, the IUCN currently lists the mammal as Least Concern.
This surprising status appears on the organization’s Red List of Threatened Species. Nonetheless, many people currently believe it to be threatened. Most likely, at the present time, its greatest threats come from habitat loss and climate change.

Jaguarundi, Puma yagouaroundi — Source: http://bit.ly/2Ey1soD Photo: Alena Houšková CCL: http://bit.ly/2IjEG4n

Jaguarundi Physical Description

Rather impressively, mature adult specimens of the Jaguarundi averages roughly 30 in (77 cm) in body length. The tail of the feline also reaches a relatively great length of about 24 in (60 cm) in length. Mature adults sometimes weigh as much as 20 lb (9.1 kg).

This amazing species displays no noticeable degree of the physiological trait of sexual dimorphism. This extends to both appearance and physical size. Yet the wild feline does display one unique trait. This holds true due to the fact that it has a unique coloring.

That’s because the fur of different individuals sometimes appears as either a dark chestnut or brownish-black in color. But, quite surprisingly, there seems to be no genetic tendency for this, since individuals of either or both patterns may be born in the same litter.

The amazing Jaguarundi remains known among those who appreciate the wild cats for yet another physical trait. That’s due to its distinctively short legs. In sharp contrast to this characteristic, the body of the remarkable mammal develops as quite elongated.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Herpailurus
Species: H. yagouaroundi

Jaguarundi Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

To the surprise of some people, the amazing Jaguarundi represents a small species of wildcat primarily endemic to a moderately broad section of the world. More precisely, this mainly consists of specific regions of South America and Central America.

Scattered small populations of this animal nevertheless also exist as far north as the states of Texas and Florida, in North America. Wherever individuals appear, however, this incredible wild feline exhibits very specific requirements for its choice of habitat.

This holds true since most individuals prefer to inhabit low-lying areas of the brush. But, these must also be in close proximity to streams or small rivers. Although this limits its areas of habitation, it does include habitats ranging from wet grasslands to dry forests.

Human encroachment forced the Jaguarundi to adapt, however. Some also live in dense tropical regions, and at altitudes as high as 10,500 ft (3,200 m). Despite the intense activity, some have even been spotted in the vicinity of the Guiana Space Center, in French Guiana.