{
  "id": 1493372,
  "title": "Increasingly rare: Jaguarundi moves up a notch on the endangered species list",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/increasingly-rare-jaguarundi-moves-up-a-notch-on-the-endangered",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-17T13:40:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mongabay",
    "slug": "mongabay",
    "url": "https://news.mongabay.com/2026/08/increasingly-rare-jaguarundi-moves-up-a-notch-on-the-endangered-species-list/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Distinct for their rather uncat-like appearance, jaguarundis have long remained largely unnoticed by researchers and conservationists. However, their recent uplisting to near threatened status on the IUCN Red List could change that perception. Belonging to the cat family, these small felines can weigh up to 7 kilograms (15 pounds) and inhabit a vast range spanning from Mexico to southern Brazil and Argentina. Tadeu de Oliveira, co-chair of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group, led the latest review and explained that misconceptions about the species' abundance persist. This is partly due to their diurnal nature, which makes them more visible than other felines during daytime hours as they roam and hunt across open landscapes. Additionally, jaguarundis can thrive in habitats that have degraded from forests to savannah-like environments. Although not their ideal habitat, such areas still support the species' survival. As jaguarundis venture through open spaces, they encounter humans more frequently than their forest-dwelling counterparts, leading to a perception of a more common presence. Known colloquially as the \"otter cat\" due to their distinctive appearance, these felines also exhibit a wide range of vocalizations, including chirps reminiscent of birdsong.",
  "summary": "Distinct for their rather uncat-like appearance, jaguarundis have long flown under the research and conservation radar. However, its latest uplisting to near threatened on the IUCN Red List could change that. These small cats — weighing up to around 7 kilograms (15 pounds) — roam savannah and forest landscapes across a massive range stretching from […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}