Scientists in Chile have discovered that the angle of a camera trap photo can be the difference between identifying one guiña cat and another. The small wildcat, native to Chile and Argentina, looks nearly identical to the untrained eye. But researchers found that subtle differences in ear notches, tail stripes, and facial markings become visible only when the cat is photographed from the right angle.
The challenge of spotting a single guiña in a crowd of lookalikes
The guiña, also known as the kodkod, is one of the smallest wildcats in the Americas. It weighs only about two to three kilograms. For years, conservationists struggled to track individual animals because their markings are so similar. Standard camera traps often captured blurry or poorly angled images that made identification nearly impossible. Without knowing how many individual cats lived in an area, researchers could not accurately measure population size or movement patterns.
A simple fix: repositioning cameras to catch the ears and tail
A team led by researchers in Chile tested a new approach. They placed camera traps at specific heights and angles to capture the guiña’s ears and tail more clearly. Ear notches, which are unique to each cat, became visible in the images. Tail stripe patterns also helped distinguish one animal from another. The method worked across multiple sites in southern Chile, where the guiña lives in temperate rainforests. Local communities and landowners helped by allowing cameras on their property. They cared because the guiña sometimes preys on poultry, and better tracking could lead to nonlethal solutions for conflict.
Why this matters for a species recently downlisted
In 2025, the International Union for Conservation of Nature downlisted the guiña from vulnerable to least concern. That change reflected improved population estimates, but accurate monitoring remains essential. Without reliable identification methods, conservationists risk missing declines. The camera angle technique gives researchers a low cost tool to keep tracking the species. It also offers a model for studying other small, elusive cats around the world. The work shows that sometimes the biggest breakthrough is not a new gadget but a smarter way to use the tools already in hand.
