The Cat Survival Trust

The Kodkod or Guigna

Felis (Oncifelis) guigna Molina

Contents
	Description Distribution Diet Behaviour Reproduction Conservation Status Captive Breeding and Kodkods in Captivity Further Reading

Photo: Gerardo Acosta J.
University of Chile

Other names
	French:	guigna, chat du Chili
	German:	Nachtkatze, Chilenische Waldkatze
	Spanish:	guiña

Description

Photo: Gerardo Acosta J.
University of Chile

The kodkod or guiña (sometimes hûina or huiña) is the smallest South American cat, about half the size of a large domestic cat. It is said to be very similar in appearance to Geoffroy’s cat. Grey-brown/buff in colour, the kodkod is marked with round black spots with some streaking on the head and shoulders. The underparts are white.
The short, bushy tail is ringed and the backs of the ears are black with a central white spot. Melanistic or all black specimens are not uncommon, but while these appear all black from a distance, spots and rings can be distinguished at close range.
The skull is relatively short and notably wide and convex. A minute anterior upper premolar is present.
Generic names for many of the cats have been disputed, the evolution of the various lineages is very uncertain. Oncifelis and Leopardus genera have been proposed for the kodkod, which used to be classified as a Felis species. Scientific evidence suggests that the kodkod, Geoffroy’s cat and the pampas cat are more closely related to each other than they are to any other cat species (C. Wozencraft: A Taxonomy of the Felidae. Cat News, 18, 1993, p.24).
Two subspecies of the kodkod have been described: F. (O.) g. guigna and F. (O.) g. tigrillo. The former has spotted feet and is more brightly coloured and smaller than the latter.

Principal dimensions

Subspecies	guigna	tigrillo
Head and Body lengths (cm)	39-45	49-51
Height at shoulder (cm)	25	25
Tail lengths (cm)	19-23	23-25
Weight (Kg)	2.1-3	2.1-3

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Distribution and Habitats

Of the Latin American felids the Kodkod has the most restricted distribution, confined to central and southern Chile from Coquimbo to Chiloé and the Guaitecas islands, and also the Argentinian Patagonian Andean lakes district: Chubut and Santa Cruz. Found in coniferous forest, the Kodkod has also been found in semi-open habitats. F. (O.) g. guigna occupies the southern part of the range of this species.

The map shows the present distribution of Kodkods in grey.
The map is based on information in the Wild Cats Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan published by the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group in 1996. See our Books page for more details.

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Diet

Probably preys on small nocturnal mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. The males (but not, apparently, the smaller females) are also raiders of domestic chickens in areas where humans have encroached on their habitat.

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Behaviour

Nocturnal and terrestrial, the Kodkod is an excellent climber and probably forages in trees as well as on the ground. It has been postulated that they exhibit a high degree of social behaviour, and may even live communally, there is however no evidence for this.

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Reproduction

Unknown

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Conservation Status

Kodkod are very rare in the wild and currently threatened by extensive habitat destruction. In view of their extremely restricted distribution this must be regarded very seriously. The IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group (Conservation and Legal Status of Wild Cats. Cat News, 12, 1990, p. 26.) states that the kodkod has been placed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This acknowledges that the listed species are faced with extinction unless trade is strictly regulated.
The IUCN Red List has the kodkod as Vulnerable. (Cat News 23, 1995, p. 21)
For latest information about a recent study project on the kodkod, visit:

Proyecto Guigna (In English)

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