Largest member of its genus, Leopardus. Off-white to tawny with darker, chain-like rosettes bordered in black with lighter centers, two black stripes on their cheeks, black ears with a yellow splotch in the center. Males are larger than females.

Ocelots have exceptional senses of smell and sight, making them extraordinarily skilled hunters in the early morning or evening when light is low. Their multicolored, spotted coat helps them blend into their habitat when light is dappling through trees or rocky outcroppings, protecting them from predators.