THE GUIGNA CAT  
Oncifelis guigna

"Black or melanistic guignas are not uncommon. Above is an absolutely stunning female guigna standing on a small branch holding a lizard in her mouth. Until this photograph was taken we were not sure that guignas ate lizards. When I saw her she froze and stared at the camera. So long as we looked into each other's eyes she remained motionless. When I looked away she swiftly and silently disappeared. Can you find her? Look for the lizard in her mouth. Then look for two brown eyes. Stunningly beautiful!"

Text and Photo © Dr. Jim Sanderson.

According to The Small Cat Conservation Alliance's Guigna Project, Chile has five species of cats: Puma, Geoffroy's cat, Andean mountain cat, Guigna, and Pampas cat. Guignas have the smallest geographic range of any cats and are the smallest cat in the Americas.

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