The jaguar (Panthera onca) has a reputation of being powerful, agile, and formidable. His presence cannot be ignored. The surprising recent capture and release of an adult, male jaguar in Arizona has brought the jaguar back to the forefront of conservationists’ and wildlife admirer’s minds.
The jaguar’s coat is normally a yellowish-tan, but can be reddish-brown to black. Black jaguars and leopards are what are commonly called a “black panther”. He has spots that are quite solid on his head and neck, but gradually the rosette-shaped markings get larger on his sides and back.
Because they are similar in appearance, jaguars are often confused with leopards. Both cats can have brownish- yellow coats and both carry the rosette-patterned markings. The distinguishing mark that tells you you’re face-to-face with a jaguar is the small, dark spot in the middle of the rosettes. Also, the rosettes are larger and fewer on a jaguar than on a leopard.
While not as adept as leopards at climbing, jaguars can and do climb trees, especially to reach monkeys on low branches. Normally, their hunting is done from the ground, but jaguars will sometimes climb a tree and surprise its prey by attacking from above. The kill is usually made with one big crunch of his jaws to the skull.
Jaguar Stats
- Order: Carnivora
- Genus: Panthera
- Family: Felidae
- Species: Panthera onca
- Height: 2 – 2 ½ feet
- Weight: 100- 250 lbs. The size of a jaguar will often relate to his location. Jaguars found in dense forests can be half the size of jaguars found in more open territory. This is believed to be due to the size of prey available to the animal.
- Length: 5 ½ - 8 feet
- Lifespan: 15 – 20 years
- Diet: Deer, peccary, monkeys, capybara, crocodiles, tapirs, sloth, turtles, snakes, eggs and fish. In fact, jaguars are expert fishermen and like the tiger, love the water.
- Habits: Jaguars will hunt during all hours. However, if next to human habitats, they are mostly active at night.
- Population: 15,000 throughout their range
- Conservation Status: Endangered
Jaguar Reproduction
Jaguars breed and give birth year-round. Breeding season only time jaguars tolerate the company of other big cats. Jaguar are solitary animals and live their lives living and hunting alone. The male will breed the females living in his area. The gestation period for a female jaguar is 90-110 days and she gives birth to 1-4 kittens. The youngsters stay with her for 1 – 11/2 years.
“Large cats” and “small cats” are classified by their voice boxes. Large cat family members can all roar. The jaguar’s roar has been described as a rather deep coughing sound.
As the largest cat in the Americas and the third largest world-wide, the jaguar roams throughout South America, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to Patagonia. Primarily a forest dweller, Panthera onca can be found in rainforests, swamps, deciduous forests, pampas grasslands and mountainous areas; although, rarely is he found above 8,000 feet.
Other than humans, no other predator can compete with this powerful cat; he has no rivals. The male jaguar has a territory of between 19 – 53 square miles and will share his land with a few female jaguars. He will aggressively defend his territory against intruding males, however, to ensure that the females there only breed with him.
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