Details
Panthera onca
The jaguar is a solitary big cat of Neotropical forests and freshwater edges. Crepuscular and powerful, it takes a wide range of prey.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It favors tropical forest and wet riverine habitats, often staying close to freshwater. Thickets, banks, and shallows are important hunting areas.
Body length is about 112-185 cm and weight about 45-120 kg. A robust head and body, rosette markings, and strong tail suit both land and water.
Active mostly around dawn and dusk, it patrols a large solitary range. It swims well and uses rivers and wetlands as travel routes.
It is carnivorous, eating mammals, reptiles, fish, and other prey. It usually ambushes at close range and kills with exceptionally strong jaws.
Females rear cubs in concealed dens and care for them until they learn to hunt. Young later disperse to find their own ranges.
Its status is listed as Near Threatened. Habitat fragmentation and conflict with people make broad connected landscapes important.
