At only 20 centimetres tall, the Oncilla is the smallest cat in South America but has a temperament as mighty as a lion - which begs the question: if not friend, why friend shaped?

A highly solitary creature, the Oncilla only interacts with other members of the species by chance or to mate. When they do, they produce very small litters. New kittens stay with their mother until they are around four months old and only reach sexual maturity at over two years old. These two factors make for a low reproductive rate, which partly explains why these beautiful babies are so rare.

Recent research reveals two separate species of Oncilla: the Northern and Southern tiger cat. Despite their similar appearance and shared habitat, interbreeding between them is impossible.