Jaguarundi

Genetic studies have shown that the phymagenetic line of the puma, which includes the genera Puma and Acinonyx, separated from the common ancestor line 6.7 million years ago, the genera Puma and Acinonyx split 4.9 million years ago, and finally the species Puma concolor and Herpailurus yagouaroundi split just over 4 million years ago [14]. However, according to another phylogenetic study based on mitochondrial DNA, the first two events occurred more than 7.5 million years ago, and the separation of jaguarundi and cougar species more than 5 million years ago [15] [9].

As in most cats, the jaguar has 19 pairs of chromosomes (2n = 38), but their karyotype is unusual. Jaguarundi has FN = 76 with 36 metacentric or submetacentric autosomes. The X chromosome is medium-sized and submetacentric, while the Y chromosome is small submetacentric [3].

Although there are 36 chromosomes at the end of small South American cats, jaguarundas have 38 as many as Old World cats. Moreover, jaguarundas are not only free of group F chromosomes, but also have 5 pairs of group E chromosomes. One of these group E chromosomes is similar to the chromosome of a Bengal cat and a fishing cat [13].

The species was taxonomically described in 1803 by Etienne Geoffroy as Felis yagouaroundi. The name of the genus Herpailurus was proposed by M. Severtsov in 1858 [6]. Based on genetic research conducted in the late twentieth century, the species was assigned to the genus Puma, which was taken into account in the publication "Mammal species of the world" [7]. However, subsequent phylogenetic studies have shown a significant discrepancy between the species of cougar and jaguarundi - in addition to significant differences in anatomy and size - and now jaguarundis are mostly considered to belong to their own genus Herpailurus [8] [9].

In total, jaguarundi have at least 41 names used for this species in different parts of the range. The scientific name yagouaroundi comes from the Guarani word yaguarundi, which is used to name this cat. The word yagua means carnivorous animal, rundi, probably derived from irundi, meaning "four", or from hung'i - "brownish", "brownish-orange" [3]. According to other sources, undi, like yaguára, is a word from tupi-guarani and undi means "dark" [4].

Inhabits forests, savannas, shrubs and meadows, is mainly active during the day. He climbs trees well and swims, but hunts on the ground. Jaguarundi is genetically related to the cougar and the cheetah. It has an unusual appearance for the family, somewhat similar to members of the marten family (Mustelidae). The legs of the jaguar are short, the head is flat, and the fur is almost unlabeled.