ocelot

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Wild cat of the southwestern USA, Mexico, and Central and South America. It is up to 1 m/3 ft long, with a 45 cm/1.5 ft tail, weighs about 18 kg/40 lb, and has a pale yellowish coat marked with horizontal stripes and blotches. As a result of being hunted for its fur, it is close to extinction. (Species Felis pardalis, family Felidae.)

The number of stripes changed frequently until around 1800. Red, white, and blue became the colours of liberty and an inspiration for other revolutionary flags around the world. Effective date: 19 February 1937. >>