The jaguarundi, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, is a small to medium-sized wild cat native to the Americas, ranging from southern Texas and Mexico down through Central and South America. Unlike most felines with patterned coats, the jaguarundi typically has a plain, unspotted coat that can vary in color from reddish-brown to dark grey, often leading to confusion with mustelids like weasels or otters due to its elongated body, short legs, and small, flattened head. They are primarily diurnal, an unusual trait among wild cats, and are highly adaptable, inhabiting a variety of environments including forests, savannas, and scrublands, often near water sources. Their diet is diverse, consisting mainly of small rodents, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, and they are agile climbers, though they primarily hunt on the ground.