Research overview: phylogeography of the ocelot and margay

The ocelot and margay are widespread Neotropical cats whose phylogeography reveals how rainforest history structured small felid populations. This overview surveys studies showing pronounced genetic structure across the Amazon and between Central and South American populations, often delineated by major rivers and the Andes. It discusses how such structure informs subspecies recognition and conservation management, and how the ocelot in particular shows deep breaks that some interpret as distinct units. The piece explains the role of Pleistocene forest refugia and riverine barriers in shaping these patterns. It connects to the broader study of Neotropical biogeography, where felids serve as indicators of how landscape and climate history fragmented populations, and notes that resolving this structure helps define conservation units for these heavily traded and habitat-sensitive cats.