Another possible origin for the name is the Latin ocellatus ("having little eyes" or "marked with eye-like spots"), in reference to the cat's spotted coat. The name "ocelot" comes from the Nahuatl word ōcēlōtl ( pronounced ), which generally refers to the jaguar, rather than the ocelot. The association of the ocelot with humans dates back to the Aztec and Incan civilizations it has occasionally been kept as a pet.
While its range is very large, various populations are decreasing in many parts of its range. The ocelot is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, and is threatened by habitat destruction, hunting, and traffic accidents. They stay with their mother for up to two years, after which they leave to establish their own home ranges. After a gestation period of two to three months the female gives birth to a litter of one to three kittens. Both sexes become sexually mature at around two years of age and can breed throughout the year peak mating season varies geographically. It preys on small terrestrial mammals, such as armadillos, opossums, and lagomorphs. It is efficient at climbing, leaping and swimming. Typically active during twilight and at night, the ocelot tends to be solitary and territorial. It prefers areas close to water sources with dense vegetation cover and high prey availability. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and to the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Margarita. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis) is a medium-sized spotted wild cat that reaches 40–50 cm (15.7–19.7 in) at the shoulders and weighs between 7 and 15.5 kg (15.4 and 34.2 lb) on average.
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