The Largest Cat in South America

Appearance

Jaguars are heavy and muscular animals that are heavier and sturdier than leopards. Jaguars have a large head with a more powerful bite than most big cats and animals combined. Jaguars' fur is either tan or a dark yellow shade. Their fur is covered in dark rose-shaped patterns. The rose-shaped patterns on a Jaguar are called rosettes. The rosettes are unique to each individual jaguar. The color of Jaguars' fur helps them camouflage.

Diet

Jaguars usually hunt on the ground but they are able to climb in the trees and in the water since they are great swimmers. Jaguars can kill their prey in one bite. The majority of their diet is made up of capybara, tapirs, deer, and peccaries. They stalk their prey in silence throughout the dense jungle. In the water, Jaguars can hunt fish, turtles, and sometimes caiman. They can eat over 80 different animal species.

Habitat

Jaguars inhabit the tropical ranforests of Central and South America. They used to live in the southern United States until they were removed due to deforestation and poaching. Jaguars prefer to live in thick, moist, dense jungles where there is shade and to successfully hunt their prey. They are found living near a source of water. They prefer swampland or seasonal flooded forests. Jaguars have lost lots of their habitat due to poachers, growing farms, and deforestation. Jaguars live from Mexico to Argentina. 

Reproduction

Jaguar cubs are usually born from March to December. During mating season, females will use loud vocal calls to bring males into her territory. Females can give birth to normally two or three cubs. Females are very protective of their cubs and will not let the male near their territory. Like many newborn animals, Jagaur cubs are born blind and gain their strength after about 2 weeks. The cubs will drink their mothers milk for about 3 months. Jaguars tend to live from 12 to 20 years and also depending if they are in captivity or in the wild. 

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