| Jaguar | |||
| Genus | Panthera | ||
| Species | onca | ||
| Status | Endangered | ||
| Habitat | Forest | ||
| Distribution | Southwestern United States, Mexico, Central and South America | ||
| Height | 27-30 inches (69-76 cm) | ||
| Length | (with tail) 70-100 inches (178-254 cm) | ||
| Weight | 120-300 pounds (54-136 kg) | ||
| Behavior |
The jaguar loves to stay near water and will sometimes hunt water animals, including crocodiles and snakes!
Jaguars have large areas that they call territories, usually up to two hundred square miles (518 square kilometers). They need large territories because they often have to travel long distances to find food. Sometimes the territory of two jaguars overlaps, but they will avoid each other. | ||
| Diet | Crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, deer, sloths, tapirs, turtles, eggs, frogs, fish, and anything else it can catch | ||
| Communication | The jaguar makes a roar that sounds like a loud cough. | ||
| Breeding | After mating, the female jaguar goes off on her own and gives birth to the baby jaguars. The cubs are blind and helpless when born, but begin seeing clearly in about two weeks. The babies then stay with their mother for nearly a year before leaving to establish their own territories. Jaguars are fully grown when they are three years old. | ||
| No. of Young | 1-4 cubs | ||
| Conservation | As more and more rainforest is being cut away, jaguars have less wilderness in which to live and hunt. The jaguar population is also so low because they are hunted for their beautiful fur. The future of the jaguar depends on the market for their fur coats, and the sanctity of their habitats. | ||
| Interesting Facts |
Jaguars used to live in deserts and jungles, but today are found mostly in jungles because those living in open areas are more easily killed. The jaguar is the largest cat in North and South America. Most jaguars are gold with black markings, but some have black fur.
The jaguar is a member of the big cat family, and is related to the lion, tiger, and leopard. Scientists classify cats by their voice boxes. All members of the big cat family can roar, but other cats can't. A jaguar's roar sounds like a loud cough. The house cat, the lynx, and the mountain lion make purring sounds instead of roaring. Jaguars are often confused with leopards. However, jaguars are found in South America, while leopards live in Africa and Asia. Leopards are smaller and have narrow heads and bodies. Their markings are clumps of black spots, while a jaguar's are rings with dots in the center. | ||
| Images and Video Clips | |||
| |||
| Sound Snippet | |||
|
1) Spitting and Snarling with hostility | |||
| Animal Communication Panel | |||
 Back
|
|