Ocelots of the Future

The creature I’ve chosen to do this project is the ocelot. Ocelots live in rainforests in the northern parts of South America. They have spots to blend in with light patterns created by trees and are carnivores, preying on small rodents. The ocelot also has thirty-two muscles in each ear, helping it hear. Ocelots hunt by waiting for prey before jumping out in ambush. However, climate change is changing ocelot habitats, so they must adapt to compensate. The inland rainforests ocelot’s live in will become dry savannas with scattered trees. To adapt, ocelots’ fur will turn a sandy, dry grass color and will lose their spots to faint stripes to blend in with the environment. Ocelots will also become slightly smaller so they require less food and water. Their teeth and claws will become sharper to assist with hunting and their tails will become longer to help deter insects.