The kodkod is the smallest felid in the Americas, weighing an average of 2.2 kg. It is a buff to
brownish colored cat heavily patterned with small black spots. The kodkod is closely related to Geoffroy's
cat, of which it may be a subspecies -- they do not appear to be sympatric. The subject deserves further
investigation, particularly in Argentina, where Geoffroy's cat is more common and widely distributed,
and has been collected near to the kodkod's known range. In comparison to Geoffroy's cat, the kodkod
has a small face and much thicker tail there is a high incidence of melanism which seems to increase
with latitude, and is particularly common on Chiloi and guaitecas islands. The kodkod has rather large
feet, and well-developed arboreal abilities, sheltering in trees during inactive periods and climbing
as an escape tactic when pursued. It has been noted that they den in bamboo thickets.
Kodkods generally eat small rodents, Norwegian rat, small reptiles and birds. Kodkods have also
been reported to take poultry. While believed to be primarily nocturnal it has been noted that most
activity takes place during the day in captivity.
The origin of the kodkod's name
is obscure. It may be from one of the Mapuche Indian dialects, and probably originally referred to the
pampas cat (O. colocolo) -- "colocolo" may be a Spanish corruption of "kodkod". O. guigna is most commonly
called the g|iqa (pronounced gwee-nya) in Chile and argentina.
After
a gestation period of approximately 75 to 80 days, the female will give birth to a litter of about 3
kits. The kits eyes open in about 2 weeks and they will nurse until about 3 months of age. The kits
are adult and on their own at about one year and become sexually mature at about the same time. In captivity,
they live for up to 11 years. Lifespan in the wild is not known.
found only in Argentina
and Chile, the kodkod is strongly associated with the moist temperate mixed forests of the southern Andean
and Coastal ranges, particularly the Valdivian forest of Chile, which is characterized by the presence
of bamboo in the understory. It ranges up to the treeline at approximately 1,900 to 2,500 m. In Argentina,
the kodkod has been recorded from moist montane forest which has Valdivian characteristics, including
a multi-layered structure with bamboo, and numerous lianas and epiphytes. Most records describe the kodkod's
habitat associations in order of importance as: evergreen temperate rainforest, deciduous temperate moist
forest, sclerophyllous scrub, and coniferous forest.
Sclerophyllous scrub occurs
in central Chile, from about 30-37S. Only one specimen has been collected from this habitat type, which
is structurally and faunistically quite different from the Valdivian forest. That specimen (from the
Valparaiso area, 330 S) was described as paler than the Valdivian kodkods, with a larger skull and
heavier dentition. Osgood (1943), who classified the specimen as a separate subspecies (O.g. molinae),
remarked on its similarity to the "salt desert" race of Geoffroy's cat, found in the Andes of north-western
Argentina, and speculated that further specimens might arise to link the two cats, although this has
not occurred. In Chile, Geoffroy's cats are known to occur only in the Nothofagus beech forests of the
far south, and this race of Geoffroy's cats bears little resemblance to the Valdivian kodkod. It is
puzzling that the kodkod should show such marked differences in habitat association, implying a broad
habitat selectivity, and still have such a restricted distribution, implying narrow selectivity.
moreover, the kodkod is tolerant of altered habitats, being found in secondary forest
and shrub as well as primary forest, and on the fringes of settled and cultivated areas.
the kodkod has historically been described as quite common. However, in the dry scrub of central
Chile, 10% of the country's area but home to two-thirds of its population, habitat loss has led to localized
and patchy distribution. In general, however, the southern forested part of its range is well protected
and sparsely populated by humans. Even where its habitat has been altered, such as in central Chile,
where 15,000 km2 of pine and eucalyptus plantations have been established, kodkods may do well as rodent
populations thrive.
The kodkod seems to live at higher densities on Chiloi Island,
possibly linked to the absence of the puma, gray fox and Andean fox. In the mid- 1800s, the German
naturalist Philippi described groups of kodkods raiding chicken houses, with up to 20 cats being killed
by farmers in a single day. Farmers there still complain of poultry depredation by the kodkod.
though not endangered, the Kodkod is protected in most of its range. Because of its restricted
distribution, the kodkod is particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, the primary cause of reduced numbers
in the north of its range. however, there is presently little forest clearance for agricultural purposes,
and most monoculture plantations are being established on abandoned agricultural lands. Logging of the
Chilean Valdivian forest is increasing for export to Japan, but a substantial proportion (36%) is protected,
and logging is not necessarily a threat to the kodkod because of its use of secondary vegetation. There
are also several large protected areas within its range in Argentina.
