The Puma, Puma concolor
This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, extending from the Yukon in Canada to southern Brazil and Argentina. It prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking, but it can also live in open areas. The puma is territorial and persists at low population densities.
When I was about ten years old I helped my mother bring the cows in from the field. Occasionally we would see two silvery-grey triangles moving above the grasses. My mother called it the Silver Lion (Silberlowe, since we didn't know what it was. This cat would stalk the herds on the common grazing fields, in the hope to catch a calf for dinner, and sometimes it did.
Click on the link below to view a dramatic episode of a puma chasing a cub, second YouTube window:
http://uniplac.net/~puma/puma.ht
When I was about ten years old I helped my mother bring the cows in from the field. Occasionally we would see two silvery-grey triangles moving above the grasses. My mother called it the Silver Lion (Silberlowe, since we didn't know what it was. This cat would stalk the herds on the common grazing fields, in the hope to catch a calf for dinner, and sometimes it did.
Click on the link below to view a dramatic episode of a puma chasing a cub, second YouTube window:
http://uniplac.net/~puma/puma.ht
Gato dos Pampas, Gato Palheiro, Pampas Cat, Leopardus colocolo
O Gato dos Pampas foi visto na Colonia de Witmarsum, Paraná, no dia 13 de Outubro, 2012 as 18:30, logo depois do por do sol.
..........................................................................................................
I saw this pampas cat sitting on the lid of the well on my ex-property in Brazil...
It looked like it had just gotten out of bed and not combed it´s hair - all frumpy fur. It looked at me for a few seconds with it´s big and innocent eyes, and then slid into the bushes...
Pampas cats look like heavy set domestic cats. Their head-body length ranges from 53-70 cm, the height at shoulder from 30-35 cm, and the body weight from 3 to 7 kg. The legs are short and stout. The tail is bushy and rather short, between 22 and 32 cm i.e. less than half the head-body length. The face is broad, the muzzle short, and the nose pad fairly large. The ears are large and more pointed than in other neotropical small cats, but there are no pencils on the tips. The colour of the iris is amber, and the pupils contract into verticla slits. The fur is long and coarse. The hairs on the back are up to 7 cm long forming a dorsal crest. Basic colour and pattern vary enormously, and it has been suggested that the Pampas cat may in fact be three different species: Leopardus pajeros, occurring in the high Andes from the Equator to Patagonia and throughout Argentina, Leopardus braccatus from Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and Leopardus colocolo from Chile. Pampas cats are predominantly nocturnal, although they may be observed in daylight hours in the wild nocturnal. After a gestation period from 80 to 85 days, the female gives birth to a litter of usually 1 to 3 kittens. The Pampas cat feeds predominantly on small mammals, such as guinea pigs (Cavia), small marsupials, and even pacas (Cuniculus) which have about the same body weight as the cat itself, tinamus and other ground-dwelling birds.
..........................................................................................................
I saw this pampas cat sitting on the lid of the well on my ex-property in Brazil...
It looked like it had just gotten out of bed and not combed it´s hair - all frumpy fur. It looked at me for a few seconds with it´s big and innocent eyes, and then slid into the bushes...
Pampas cats look like heavy set domestic cats. Their head-body length ranges from 53-70 cm, the height at shoulder from 30-35 cm, and the body weight from 3 to 7 kg. The legs are short and stout. The tail is bushy and rather short, between 22 and 32 cm i.e. less than half the head-body length. The face is broad, the muzzle short, and the nose pad fairly large. The ears are large and more pointed than in other neotropical small cats, but there are no pencils on the tips. The colour of the iris is amber, and the pupils contract into verticla slits. The fur is long and coarse. The hairs on the back are up to 7 cm long forming a dorsal crest. Basic colour and pattern vary enormously, and it has been suggested that the Pampas cat may in fact be three different species: Leopardus pajeros, occurring in the high Andes from the Equator to Patagonia and throughout Argentina, Leopardus braccatus from Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and Leopardus colocolo from Chile. Pampas cats are predominantly nocturnal, although they may be observed in daylight hours in the wild nocturnal. After a gestation period from 80 to 85 days, the female gives birth to a litter of usually 1 to 3 kittens. The Pampas cat feeds predominantly on small mammals, such as guinea pigs (Cavia), small marsupials, and even pacas (Cuniculus) which have about the same body weight as the cat itself, tinamus and other ground-dwelling birds.
Maned Wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus
The Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest (up to one meter high) canid of South America, resembling a large fox with reddish fur.
This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees, such as found in south-eastern Brazil. It is considered vulnerable by the Brazilian government (IBAMA). It is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon. It is locally known as aguará guazú (meaning “large fox”) in the Guarani language, and as "lobo guará" in Portuguese.
It still can be found in the Vila Velha Reserve Park.
Perhaps it was this animal that we saw walking through the high grasses, as this maned wolf has also silvery, triangular shaped ears.
This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees, such as found in south-eastern Brazil. It is considered vulnerable by the Brazilian government (IBAMA). It is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon. It is locally known as aguará guazú (meaning “large fox”) in the Guarani language, and as "lobo guará" in Portuguese.
It still can be found in the Vila Velha Reserve Park.
Perhaps it was this animal that we saw walking through the high grasses, as this maned wolf has also silvery, triangular shaped ears.
The Slatty-breasted wood rail, Aramides saracura
This beautiful, elegant water hen, a bit larger than the farm hen, makes it's home in swampy, wooded areas.
There is a large family down in the araucaria pine grove near the fish pond.
They make a happy cackling sound after sunset, before they retire off the ground on tree branches.
There is a large family down in the araucaria pine grove near the fish pond.
They make a happy cackling sound after sunset, before they retire off the ground on tree branches.
The Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis
The UFO = Unidentified Flying Object — A bird similar to this one flew over my property in October/November 2006. I did not have a chance to make a photo. The wingspan seemed enormous, perhaps 3m. It was much larger than the local golden eagle, and not as reddish, its colors more brownish and sepia, outlined by sandcoloured feathers. The design also much more ornate and defined than the golden eagle.
The locals say there is no such big bird here in Witmarsum, and they think that I was hallucinating...
The closest I found was this image of the Nepal Steppe Eagle on the orientalbirdimages.org site.
If you have seen a bird like this here in Paraná please do write me and send me a photo, if available.
The locals say there is no such big bird here in Witmarsum, and they think that I was hallucinating...
The closest I found was this image of the Nepal Steppe Eagle on the orientalbirdimages.org site.
If you have seen a bird like this here in Paraná please do write me and send me a photo, if available.
The Chimango Caracara, Milvago chimango
The Chimango Caracara is distributed in south-central and southern South America including the extreme south-east of Brazil. It is found in a large variety of open habitats including agricultural land where it follows the plough in large groups.
It is the commonest raptor in its area and can be identified in flight by its pale rump and the distinctive pale "windows" on the wings. It has a yellowish bill and some pinkish bare facial skin. It feeds on carrion and a wide variety of small wild prey including frogs.
It is the commonest raptor in its area and can be identified in flight by its pale rump and the distinctive pale "windows" on the wings. It has a yellowish bill and some pinkish bare facial skin. It feeds on carrion and a wide variety of small wild prey including frogs.
The Picui Ground-dove, Columbina picui
This Ground-dove is a widespread small Columbid ranging from southeast Peru, south to central Argentina and Chile and east to the Atlantic coast of north-east Brazil. The nominate subspecies occurs across most of the range and in Paraguay, where it is a common to abundant breeding resident throughout most of the country.
The Picapau Amarelo, Colaptes campestris
The picapaus made themselves at home in the cabin attic, letting themselves in by chewing oblong holes between the gable planks.
The Deer
This fawn was found alone in the fields — a friend took it home and nursed it back to health. This photo was taken in 1971. I haven't seen any deer in this area since then.
In 1958 large families of deer roamed the steppes in this area, but over the years were decimated by the hunters.
In 1958 large families of deer roamed the steppes in this area, but over the years were decimated by the hunters.
The Gralha-Azul, Cyanocorax caeruleus
A gralha azul é a ave símbolo do estado do Paraná. É o principal animal disseminador da araucária uma vez que, durante outono, quando as araucárias frutificam, bandos de gralhas estocam os pinhões para deles se alimentar posteriormente. Neste processo, as gralhas azuis encravam fortemente os pinhões no solo ou em troncos caídos no solo, local propício para a formação de uma nova árvore. No folclore do estado do Paraná atribui-se a formação e manutenção das florestas de araucária a Gralha Azul.