Research overview: ocelot diet and prey selection

Dietary studies based on scat analysis and stomach contents describe the ocelot as a generalist hunter that nonetheless concentrates on small terrestrial mammals. Across its range, rodents such as spiny rats, agoutis, and rice rats dominate the biomass consumed, supplemented by opossums, reptiles, birds, and occasionally fish or crustaceans. This overview compiles findings showing prey items typically weigh under one kilogram, a pattern consistent with the cat mid-sized body and ambush style. Seasonal shifts track prey availability, and where larger felids are present ocelots tend to take smaller prey to reduce competition. Understanding prey selection clarifies why ocelot density tracks rodent productivity and forest structure, informing how habitat conversion that depletes the small-mammal community can quietly erode local populations.