The jaguar | Facts & Information

Features: the mreest feline on the American continent

It is one of four large felines in the genus "Panthera" along with lion, tiger and leopard. The Jaguar is the third largest feline after the tiger and Lion.

The habitat of a jaguar stretches from Mexico to Paraguay and Northern Argentina, but it has occasionally been seen in the southwestern parts of the United States.

Jaguars living in tropical forests are usually darker in color and smaller than those living in open spaces.

It is believed that this is due to the fact that there are fewer herbivores in the forests to feed on.

Jaguar Food

Jaguars are carnivores, and their diet consists of birds, eggs, mammals, turtles and even alligators. If it has not finished eating, the Jaguar buries its prey to eat later.

The jaguar is thought to be nocturnal, but in fact it is more active before sunrise and at sunset.

The Jaguar is a solitary animal and hunts through pandas and ambush. Compared to other felines, the Jaguar has developed a much stronger bite that allows it to penetrate with its teeth the tortoise shell and the thick skin of reptiles.

The Jaguar has a unique way of killing its prey by sticking its fangs directly into its skull, in the area between its ears. The Jaguar can hunt and carry mammals weighing 300-360 kilograms.

Jaguar Appearance

A jaguar can reach a length of 1.62-1.83 meters and a height of 67-76 centimeters. Their tail is 0.6-0.9 meters long. It weighs around 36 kilograms, but Jaguars have also been found weighing between 131 and 151 kilograms.

The color of the coat can be from light yellow to reddish-brown or black, covered with black spots that help them better camouflage. These spots, like rosettes, vary from individual to individual.

Also, a rosette can have a single spot or several, and The Shape of those spots varies.

The spots on the head, neck and tail are generally uniform, and at the tail they may form bands along or. The abdomen, neck and inside of the legs have white fur. A jaguar is the most physically similar to a leopard.

The Jaguar is the second most powerful mammal. It has short, stocky paws that help it climb, crawl and swim better. Its head is sturdy and its jaws are very strong.

Jaguar Behavior

The Jaguar lives mainly in tropical forests, swamps, deserts and scrubs. They usually do their work in caves. Along with the tiger is a very good swimmer, and is often found near the waters.

Jaguars are very territorial, and only females and Cubs live together. Adults usually meet only to mate and define their territories.

The territories of the females are between 25 and 40 square kilometers and can sometimes interbreed, but these animals usually avoid each other.

In contrast, the territories of males are 2 times larger and do not overlap. These animals mark their territories with urine, feces and claw marks. A jaguar can roar, just like other large felines, the roar of the males being stronger.

It roars when it wants to mate or to warn other males not to encroach on its territory. It can also meow and mumble. Fights between males are quite rare, and when they occur, they are usually territorial.

Jaguar Breeding

The female jaguar reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2 years, and the males at the age of 3 or 4 years. In the wild, jaguars mate all year round, especially during times when prey is abundant.

The female is fertile for 6-17 days per period, and notifies the males of this by the smell of urine left behind and the sounds they make. After mating, the male leaves the female, and she is the only one in charge of the Cubs.

The gestation period lasts from 93 to 105 days, after which the female gives birth to between 2 and 4 Cubs. After the birth of the offspring, the female does not bear the presence of males, it is known that they can eat them. The same behavior the Tigers have.

Puppies are born blind and can see after 2 weeks. They are weaned at 3 months, but remain in the mother's Barlog until the age of 6 months. After 6 months of age, the Cubs go out with their mother to hunt, and stay by her side for a year or 2 before leaving to find their own territories.

A jaguar can live between 12 and 15 years in the wild, and in captivity can live up to 23 years, making it one of the longest-lived felines.

The Jaguar is considered a threatened species due to habitat loss and hunting by humans. Hunting of these animals is prohibited in: Argentina, Belize, Colombia, French Guiana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, U.S., Uruguay and Venezuela.

Hunting them as trophies is still allowed in Bolivia, and in Ecuador and Guyana there is no law against hunting Jaguars.