The jaguar (or Panthera onca) is a species of big cat that lives throughout South America, Central America and Mexico, with rare individual sightings in southern USA. Although they can live in multiple environment types, they prefer to be in dense forests, near swamps and rivers. They are stockily built compared to the other big cat species, weighing an average of between 56 and 96kg, and measuring 112 to 185cm long. They have yellow to orange fur with black rosette patterning, and a white underside.
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Panthera onca
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jaguar
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Animal Facts
Jaguars are good swimmers, often chasing and catching prey in water.
Female jaguars with cubs will be especially aggressive towards male jaguars to protect their young.
The animals known as ‘black panthers’ are actually jaguars with a rare colour morph.
Jaguars have an extremely strong bite that enables them to crush turtle shells. Relative to their body size, they have the strongest bite of all felids (alongside the clouded leopard).
Jaguars will often drag their kill into trees to eat undisturbed. They also often sleep in trees.
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