Fauna
Mammal

Kodkod

Leopardus guigna

Also known as Güiña, Chilean Cat, Guigna

The smallest wild cat in the Americas, this compact felid is an agile tree climber with unusually large feet and a thick, ringed tail that assists balance in the canopy. Dense Valdivian temperate rainforests provide its ideal retreat, where it slips through bamboo thickets and mossy branches with remarkable stealth. Melanistic, all-black individuals are unusually frequent in southern island populations like Chiloé Island.

NocturnalCarnivoreArboreal
Kodkod reference1 / 5
Mauro Tammone / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyLong-tailed pygmy rice rat, Austral thrush, Slender lizard
Predators
  • Puma
  • Culpeo
  • Domestic dog
ThreatsHabitat loss, forest fragmentation, retaliatory killing, and domestic dog attacks
HabitatsTemperate rainforests, Valdivian temperate forests, and dense scrub
Life span8–11 years
Classification
  1. FamilyFelidae
  2. SpeciesLeopardus guigna
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Capable of scratching or biting if cornered; observe quietly from a safe distance.
What to notice
Recognizable by its tiny size, rich brownish-yellow coat with small dark spots, and heavily ringed tail.
Support conservation
Keep domestic pets leashed in native forests, never pursue, and do not corner wild individuals.
Responsible observation
  • Forest Corridors: Watch edges of dense Valdivian forest at dawn and dusk where they cross between patches.
  • Camera Traps: Use motion-activated trail cameras along tree limbs and game trails for non-invasive spotting.
Related species
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