Humans have prized the fur of ocelots since as far back as the early days of the ancient Aztec civilization, the name of the animal deriving from the Aztec word tlalocelot, which means “field tiger.” Short, smooth, and patterned elaborately in elongated, irregularly shaped spots tinged in black, coats and other garments fabricated from ocelot fur are indeed an eye-catching sight, though their popularity has decreased some in recent years as an increasing interest in animal rights has developed. Ocelots are also utilized for commercial profit by those who capture or raise the tamable animals for sale as exotic pets.