Elusive 'Otter-Looking' Cat With Rare Coffee-Colored Fur Spotted on Hidden Camera
It's impossible to know exactly how many animals live in the jungle, but scientists have theorized that rainforests could house over half of the world's plant and animal species. With billions of insects alone, there are likely a lot of species we know little to nothing about.
In the case of "rare jungle cats you've never heard of," the elusive Jaguarundi is an otter-looking, small wild cat breed who slinks through life in the jungle's shadows-until now.
@ticoswildstudio JAGUARUNDI ALEEERT For those who just want to see the moment… here it is. This is the footage captured by one of our camera traps on the Osa Peninsula: a jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and not like the ones we usually document. As mentioned in yesterday's post, this species is already extremely difficult to detect due to its discreet behavior and very low detection rates. But this individual is even more unusual. All the jaguarundis we've recorded so far were black… this one is brown. Jaguarundis are known to be polymorphic, but seeing this kind of color variation in the wild remains rare. That makes this observation particularly valuable for our long-term monitoring and for improving our understanding of the species in the region. Even more interesting, this individual is a female. Since jaguarundis don't have spots or distinctive patterns, her coloration could allow us to recognize her again and potentially follow her over time through our camera trap network. As always, the exact location will not be shared, only that this was recorded on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica Thanks again to @copadearbol for supporting this camera trap! Follow @lasoncas and share, wildcats need us to be their voice! #cameratrap#trailcam#costarica#puravida#osapeninsula
son original - Tico's Wild Studio
If you've never heard of these cool cats before, same! The small, thin wild cats are native to some states within the U.S. and all the way to central Argentina. Nicknamed "the otter cat" due to their short legs, small, flat heads, and elongated bodies, these cool creatures even move like little weasels!
As a whole, Jaguarundi cats, like the one spotted on a hidden camera in Costa Rica, grow to be 3 to 4 feet tall and only about 16 pounds. They're also excellent tree climbers, and have been rumored to be pretty good swimmers (so look out, Michael Phelps)!
Related: Elusive Rare Cat With Huge Alien Eyes Makes Surprise Cameo on Woman's Vlog
Personality-wise, these funny cats aren't going to win any contests anytime soon. Even in captivity, they're known for displaying the kind of "leave me alone" attitude you'd expect only from cats, so I guess they're staying on-brand!
For example, this little guy is safe, happy, and loved, and he still has a few complaints for HR. What. A. Mood.
@bcfc591 This is our grump but beautiful Jaguarundi
Welp, Didn't Expect That - Yu-Peng Chen & HOYO-MiX
Why Jaguarundi Cats Are So Rare
Jaguarundis are extinct in most states because of habitat destruction, though they're more likely to pop up in places like Mexico or Costa Rica. Texas Parks and Wildlife reported the last confirmed sighting of a Jaguarundi was in 1986! Conservationists are working to restore habitats not only for these rare jungle cats but also for Ocelots and migrating birds (among others).
If you were to go on a wildlife trek to try to find a Jaguarundi, they're not easy to spot, but you might hear them bellowing out one of their 13 distinct calls. From whistling to purring, chattering to spilling all the jungle tea, these cats are chatty, even while hiding. That said, if you're ever in the jungle and happen upon one of these magnificent kitties, tell them I said pspsps!
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 8:20 PM.