Jaguar
Panthera onca
Conservation Status
VulnerableMammalia · Carnivora · Felidae
About
The jaguar is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus Panthera that is native to the Americas. Its distinctively marked coat features pale yellow to tan colored fur covered by spots that transition to rosettes on the sides, although a melanistic black coat appears in some individuals. With a body length of up to 1.85 m and a weight of up to 158 kg (348 lb), it is the biggest cat species in the Americas and the third largest in the world. The jaguar's powerful bite allows it to pierce the carapaces of turtles and tortoises, and to employ an unusual killing method: it bites directly through the skull of mammalian prey between the ears to deliver a fatal blow to the brain.
Fun Fact
Jaguars have the strongest bite of any big cat relative to size — powerful enough to crack open turtle shells and caiman skulls — and they typically kill with a single bite through the temporal bones of the skull.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Tropical rainforests and wetlands
Diet
Carnivore
Lifespan
12-15 years
Threats
- Illegal Wildlife Trade
- Deforestation
- Wildfire