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The onça-tigre is a cryptid cat reported from the Japurá River in the Brazilian Amazon Basin, described conflictingly as ruffed and tailless, strangely-patterned, or sabre-toothed. It is known from three dead specimens described to Joana Macedo in the Amanã and Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserves on the Japurá between 2010 and 2013.[1]
The first onça-tigre, described by a ribeirinho and his wife, resembled a jaguar, but had no tail, backwards forepaws, and very short hair on its back, but long hair on its chest,[1] like the water tiger massacuraman. The third onça-tigre had been killed because it was preying on cattle owned by local farmers. It was described as very large and with a spotted coat, with "long fangs sticking out of its mouth,"[1] like many water tigers and the tigre dantero.
The second onça-tigre, distinct from the other two, was killed when it attacked a ribeirinho's dog. It was around 5'9'' long from its chin to the base of its tail, with a 2''' long tail, with a very short, shiny coat, yellowish on the throat and chest, white on the stomach, and "completely black, without rossettes" on the back.[1]