Mammals
Kodkod
Leopardus guigna · also called güiña, guigna
Smaller than many housecats, the kodkod slips through the dense undergrowth of Chile’s temperate rainforest after dark, making it one of the least-seen wild cats anywhere in the Americas despite living close to human settlements.
Overview
The kodkod, Leopardus guigna, is a Vulnerable wild cat and the smallest cat species in the Americas, found almost exclusively in the temperate rainforest of central and southern Chile. Also widely known by its Chilean name, güiña, it is an agile, mostly nocturnal hunter that relies on dense forest cover for survival.
Built for the understory
A compact body, dense spotted coat, and strong climbing ability let the kodkod move easily through thick forest undergrowth and up into the canopy, hunting small birds, rodents, and lizards largely under cover of darkness.
Status
Vulnerable, with populations declining as Chilean and Argentine temperate rainforest continues to be cleared and fragmented for agriculture and logging, sometimes bringing the cat into conflict with farmers over poultry.
Kodkod: common questions
How small is the kodkod?
It is the smallest wild cat in the Americas, typically weighing between 1.5 and 3 kilograms, often smaller than a typical domestic cat.
Where does the kodkod live?
It is found almost exclusively in the cool, wet temperate rainforest of central and southern Chile, with a small range extending into adjacent Argentina.
Why is the kodkod also called the güiña?
Güiña is the Mapudungun-derived Chilean name for the species, used alongside the English common name kodkod in most regional and scientific literature.
Why is the kodkod Vulnerable?
Ongoing clearing and fragmentation of Chilean temperate rainforest for agriculture and logging has shrunk and isolated its habitat, and it sometimes comes into conflict with farmers after preying on poultry.