New records of Leopardus guigna in its northern-most distribution in Chile: implications for conservation

An unusually big challenge: first record of Leopardus guigna preying upon Pudu puda

Notwithstanding the very small size of this felid, Leopardus guigna is considered a top predator within its habitat. Its diet consists of small mammals, birds and reptiles, according to the available literature, but its predatory behaviour has rarely been observed directly. Here we report the first record of L. guigna preying upon Pudu puda in southern Chile. Photographic material has been obtained in a citizen science project and indicates a significant expansion of the cat’s prey size range. It also adds valuable knowledge to conservation efforts focusing on the near threatened cervid.