DIAGNOSIS.The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis; Fig. 1) is the largest of the small spotted cats (Redford and Eisenberg, 1992).It is about the size of the bobcat (Lynx rufus), but the tail is longer (27-45 cm vs. 12-19 cm-Leyhausen, 1990) and the pelage is shorter.Compared with the jaguar (Panthera onca), L. pardalis is smaller (11-16 kg vs. 74-104 kg-Kiltie, 1984;Leyhausen, 1990) and has parallel black stripes on the nape and oblique stripes near the shoulder (Davis, 1974).The ocelot closely resembles the margay (Leopardus wiedii), but L. pardalis is heavier (11-16 kg vs. 3-9 kg-Leyhausen, 1990), has a longer body length (70-100 em vs. 53-79 cm-Leyhausen, 1990), is taller at the shoulders than L. wiedii (40-50 ern vs. 30-45 cm-Leyhausen, 1990), and L. pardalis has a shorter tail that barely touches the .ground (27-45ern vs. 33-51 cm-Leyhausen, 1990).GENERAL CHARACTERS.Pelage color varies greatly, even within a population.Markings on one side do not match the other, with the forehead, crown, nape, and shoulders showing the greatest variability.Ocelots north of the Rio Grande are more gray-see above (limitis Mearns and ludoviciana Brass are synonyms).-