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DALLAS (AP) -- An environmental group is asking the federal government to further protect the endangered jaguarundi.

Denver-based WildEarth Guardians asked the federal government Wednesday for a critical habitat designation for the small cat found in Mexico, South Texas and southern Arizona.

Jaguarundis are slightly bigger than house cats, are extremely vocal and are usually gray, brown or reddish.

The thorny scrub land the animal thrives in has been giving way to agriculture and development.

The jaguarundi's habitat is shared by the ocelot, a slightly larger endangered cat for which WildEarth Guardians filed a critical habitat request earlier.

The group has filed a series of lawsuits and petitions seeking wildlife protection over the past month.

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