Abundance and activity patterns of medium-sized felids (Felidae, Carnivora) In Southeastern Mexico

We compared abundance and activity patterns of medium-sized felids in the neotropics. We used 29 camera traps to record species in the region of Los Chimalapas, Oaxaca, Mexico, during 2011-2013. We estimated population size with the capture-recapture model (Cormack-Jolly-Seber model). We assessed the differences in activity patterns between species through the Mardia-Watson-Wheeler test. Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii, and Puma yagouaroundi were recorded by cameras. The population size of L. wiedii was high in comparison with L. pardalis, which presented a medium abundance compared to other regions. Puma yagouaroundi individuals were relatively rare, likely due to a difference in habitat selection. We provide evidence that in the southeastern region of Mexico there is a significant L. wiedii population despite the presence of L. pardalis.