Jaguar
Panthera onca
Fun Facts About Jaguars
Jaguars have the strongest bite force pound-for-pound of any big cat. They can even bit through a turtle shell!
Jaguars are the third largest cat in the world, sometimes weighing more than 200-lbs!
Jaguars have a huge range and were once found as far north as the Grand Canyon.
Where Do Jaguars Live?
Jaguars can be found in different places! They have a very large native range spanning from Argentina all the way to southern Arizona. Before human expansion in the west, they were found all the way up to the Grand Canyon!
Not only do they have a large range, but they also live a large variety of habitats. They can be found in the rainforest of Central and South America but also in the Sonoran Desert in Mexico and Arizona!
What Do Jaguars Eat?
As large carnivores, jaguars need a healthy prey base to survive. They are not picky eaters; they will eat just about anything they can get their paws on. Jaguars have been known to eat more than 85 different species!
They mostly eat large animals, such as peccaries, capybaras, tapirs, and deer. They will also feed on caimans, turtles, iguanas, and even porcupines!
What Do Jaguars Look Like?
Jaguars are considered a "big cat," and rightfully so! They can weigh from 120 to 210 pounds. Female jaguars are usually smaller than males.
Jaguars are a stocky and powerful cats with short, strong legs and a long tail that helps them balance. Their color can range from yellow to orange to black! When jaguars are black in color, they are often called "black panthers." Their spots are called rosettes and help them camouflage into many different habitats!
Jaguar Behaviors
Nocturnal
Jaguars are mostly active during dusk and night time, but they are observed being active during many different parts of the day. When they are not hunting or moving between habitats, they can be found resting hidden in vegetation, in caves, or up in the trees.
Stalk & Ambush
Jaguars and known to be stalk and ambush predators. They use their camouflage and their slow, stealthy movement to sneak up on unsuspecting animals! They have even been known to wait up in trees or on river edges to attack prey from above.
Swimming
Jaguars are commonly found near water. They are great swimmers; they even have webbing between their paws to help them swim. Jaguars depend on water during the dry season to cool off, drink, and to find their food.
Jaguar Social Structure
Jaguars are solitary animals, meaning they like to live alone! This means that jaguars do not have to share their food with other jaguars when they catch prey. Jaguars will only come together during the breeding season or when females are raising their offspring. Jaguars will mark their territories with scratch and smells and will communicate with other jaguars by roaring to keep them out of their territories.
What Is the Difference Between a Jaguar and a Leopard?
There are many differences between a jaguar and a leopard! Jaguars live in the Americas, while leopards live in Africa and Asia. Leopards are also smaller-bodied than jaguars and have a smaller head. Their spots are different, too! If you look closely at the jaguar are the left, you will notice the rosettes have a spot in the middle while the leopards do not.
Jaguar Life Cycle
There is not a set breeding season for jaguars, so offspring are born throughout the year! Females are pregnant for roughly 3-4 months before giving birth to 2 or 3 cubs in a protected den. Young jaguars will stay with their mothers for up to 2 years! Jaguars can live to be roughly 10 years old in the wild and occasionally up to 20 years in captivity!
Are Jaguars Endangered?
IUCN Rating: Near Threatened
Jaguars face many threats in their large range. Though they live in many places, their home ranges are being separated by roads, communities, and other human developments which make it harder for jaguars to reach each other. Their prey base is also quickly disappearing, which is a large problem for jaguars who need plenty of food to survive!
You can help jaguars by buying sustainably harvested wood, coffee, and other natural resources. Many organizations are working to monitor and restore jaguar habitats and populations and need our financial contributions. Check out the links below to see how you can contribute.
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