Andean mountain cat | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Suborder: | Feliformia |
Family: | Felidae |
Subfamily: | Felinae |
Genus: | Leopardus |
Species: | L. jacobita[1]
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Binomial name | |
Leopardus jacobita[1] (Cornalia, 1865)
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Distribution of the Andean cat, 2016[2] | |
Synonyms | |
Oreailurus jacobita |
The Andean mountain cat (Leopardus jacobita) is a small wild cat native to the high Andes that has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List because fewer than 1,500 individuals are thought to exist in the wild.[2] It is traditionally considered a sacred animal by indigenous Aymara and Quechua people.[3]
The Andean mountain cat was first described by Emilio Cornalia, who named it in honor of Jacobita Mantegazza. It is a monotypic species.[4]