| Southern Tigrina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Range | Southern and southeastern Brazil |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Felidae |
| Genus | Leopardus |
| Species | Leopardus guttulus |
The Southern tigrina, (Leopardus guttulus), is a species of small spotted wild cat in the subfamily Felinae. It is found in southern and southeastern Brazil, and was recognized to be a distinct species in 2013; it was formerly considered to belong to the Oncilla species. At the margins of its range, the southern tigrina interbreeds with Geoffroy's cat, but it does not appear to interbreed with the population of oncilla in northeastern Brazil, which in contrast has a history of interbreeding with the Colocolo. The small neotropical cat has a yellowish-ocre coat patterned with open black rossettes. Physically, the southern tigrina can be distinguished from the oncilla by its slightly darker background coloring, larger rosette pattern, and slightly shorter tail. However, it is extremely difficult to distinguish between the two species by appearance alone, since more genetic variation tends to occur within each species than between the two species. Believed to be endemic, or unique to a defined geographical location, the southern tigrina is a threatened species because its habitat, the Atlantic Forest, is quickly disappearing. Currently, a push is on to better understand the biodiversity, ecology, evolution, and genetics of the southern tigrina to orchestrate a more effective conservation strategy for the species. In addition, further research is being conducted throughout South America to better understand the special differences between oncillas and southern tigrinas.