Kodkod
VU

Kodkod

Leopardus guigna

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodkod

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The kodkod faces severe habitat fragmentation as Chile's temperate rainforests are converted to commercial pine and eucalyptus plantations, reducing its hunting grounds and forcing populations into isolated patches. Road mortality poses an increasing threat as expanding infrastructure fragments remaining forest corridors. Competition with domestic cats and predation by dogs in rural areas further pressure this small wild cat, while climate change threatens the cool, moist forest conditions essential for its prey species.

Threat summary

Habitat

The kodkod inhabits dense temperate rainforests, mixed woodlands, and scrublands of central and southern Chile and small portions of western Argentina. It prefers areas with thick understory vegetation and rocky outcrops that provide cover for hunting small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Other threatened species in Felidae

MargayVU

Margay

Leopardus wiedii

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OcelotVU

Ocelot

Leopardus pardalis

Unknown
Mountain CatEN

Mountain Cat

Leopardus jacobitus

Unknown
JaguarundiVU

Jaguarundi

Puma yagouaroundi

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Kodkod classified as Vulnerable?
Kodkod is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The kodkod faces severe habitat fragmentation as Chile's temperate rainforests are converted to commercial pine and eucalyptus plantations, reducing its hunting grounds and forcing populations into isolated patches. Road mortality poses an increasing threat as expanding infrastructure fragments remaining forest corridors. Competition with domestic cats and predation by dogs in rural areas further pressure this small wild cat, while climate change threatens the cool, moist forest conditions essential for its prey species.
Where does Kodkod live?
Kodkod occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Kodkod?
The main threats to Kodkod are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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