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Table of Contents
The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas. It has a compact body, a broad head, and powerful jaws. The jaguar’s coat is typically yellow and tan, but the color can vary from reddish-brown to black. The spots on the coat are more solid and black on the head and neck and become larger rosette-shaped patterns along the sides and back of the body.
See the fact file below for more information on the Jaguar or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Jaguar worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Quick Facts:
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera Species: Panthera onca
Subspecies:
Panthera onca arizonensis, Panthera onca centralis, Panthera onca goldmani, Panthera onca hernandesii, Panthera onca onca, Panthera onca palustris, Panthera onca paraguensis , Panthera onca peruviana, Panthera onca veraecrucis
Introducing the Jaguar
- The jaguar is a well-muscled, compact animal.
- It is the largest cat native to the Americas and the third-largest cat in the world.
- Only lions and tigers are larger than jaguars.
- The jaguars’ name comes from the South American word “yajuar.” Yajuar means “he who kills with one leap.”
- Jaguars are excellent climbers. They often use this skill and power to hide in trees and pounce on unsuspecting prey below.
- There are only an estimated 15,000 jaguars remaining in the wild.
- Conservation efforts have been successful at protecting a small population of 80 to 120 cats in the remote mountains of Sonora, Mexico, bordering Arizona.
- In captivity, jaguars may live for over 20 years but only 11 – 12 years in the wild.
- Jaguars are apex predators. This means they are at the top of the food chain and are not preyed upon by other animals in the wild.
- All international commercial trade in jaguars or any of their body parts is prohibited.
Size and Appearance
- Males jaguars are heavier than female jaguars.
- Males can weigh from 126 – 250 lbs (57 – 113 kilograms) while females weigh 100 to 200 lbs (45 – 90 kg).
- From head to flank, jaguars range in length from 4 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters).
- Their tail is 18 – 30 in (45 – 75 cm) long and the shortest of any in the big cat family.
- A jaguar’s coat is generally a tawny yellow but ranges to reddish-brown for most of the body.
- Their belly area is whitish.
- A jaguar’s fur is covered with rosettes for camouflage in the dappled light of its forest habitat.
- Compared to those living in more open areas, forest jaguars are frequently darker in color and considerably smaller in stature, possibly due to the smaller numbers of large, herbivorous prey in forest areas.
- There are also black jaguars which are sometimes referred to as black panthers.
- The black jaguar is much less common than the spotted one.
- Black jaguars have been found in Central and South America and Northern Mexico.
- The color variation is caused by a melanocortin receptor.
Habitat and Diet
- The jaguar inhabits a variety of terrains.
- These include deciduous forests, rainforests, swamps, pampas grasslands, and mountain scrub areas.
- Its preferred habitat is moist broadleaf forests and wetlands due to the abundance of prey in these environments.
- Jaguars are more energetic than their larger cousins and are active for 50-60% of a 24-hour period.
- They were thought to be nocturnal hunters, but recent observation shows that they are also active during the day.
- Jaguars, like all cats, are obligate carnivores, feeding only on meat.
- They are opportunistic hunters, and their diet encompasses over 80 species, including caiman, reptiles that are related to alligators. They also hunt large rodents called capybaras and fish.
- Rather than chasing prey, jaguars use a stalk-and-ambush strategy when hunting.
- They prefer to attack from cover with a quick pounce, and usually from a target’s blind spot.
- Jaguars are quite capable of carrying a large kill while swimming, and the ambushes sometimes include leaping into the water for prey.
- Once they’ve caught their prey, they kill it by piercing the skull with their canine teeth, demonstrating the amazing strength of their powerful jaws.
- After killing prey, the jaguar will drag the carcass to a secluded spot or thicket.
- There it begins eating at the neck and chest.
- The heart and lungs are then consumed, followed by the shoulders.
- Research shows that jaguars feed more frequently in the dry season when less food is available, and less frequently in the wet season when food is more abundant, and they can consume larger amounts at one time.
Reproduction and Off-spring
- Jaguars are solitary animals that only spend time with others of their kind when they are mating or raising cubs.
- In captivity, the female jaguar reaches sexual maturity at around 2.5 years.
- The male reaches sexual maturity at the age of three to four years.
- During estrus, which lasts 7–15 days, the female exhibits increased restlessness with prolonged vocalizations.
- Jaguars mate In August and September.
- Gestation lasts 91 to 111 days.
- Females usually have one to two cubs.
- Baby jaguars are called cubs.
- The young are born with closed eyes, which open at about two weeks of age.
- Cubs are weaned at about three months but remain in the birth den for up to six months before leaving to accompany their mother on hunts.
- Jaguars remain with their mothers for up to two years.
Threat to Life
- The jaguar is threatened by:
- Loss of habitat.
- Killing by humans in retaliation for livestock kills.
- Poaching for illegal trade in jaguar skins and body parts.
Mythology and Culture
- The jaguar featured prominently in the mythology of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, particularly the Mayan and Aztec civilizations.
- Historically the jaguar was a symbol of power and strength.
- In northern Peru, the jaguar was used as a symbol of power in many of their ceramic creations.
- In some religions, the jaguar was considered a sacred animal, and people dressed in jaguar skins during religious rituals.
- In the Aztec civilization, the jaguar was representative of a ruler and a warrior.
- An elite warrior class known as Jaguar Warrior was formed by the Aztecs.
- The jaguar was also considered to be the totem animal of the powerful deity Tezcatlipoca.
- The jaguar is the national animal of Guyana and is featured in its coat of arms.
- A jaguar also features in the crest of the Argentine Rugby Union.
Did You Know?
- The jaguar closely resembles the leopard. The difference is the jaguar is more robust, with a squarer head and stockier limbs.
- Jaguars in Brazil and Venezuela are much larger.
- Jaguars living in forests are often darker and smaller than those living in open areas. This is possibly due to the smaller numbers of large, herbivorous prey in forest areas.
- Jaguar watching is best in Pantanal, Brazil, during the dry season, from late April to early November.
Jaguar Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about romantic poet Jaguar across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Jaguar worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas. It has a compact body, a broad head, and powerful jaws.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Jaguar Facts
- Spotted Trio
- Jaguar Decoded
- Jaguar and I
- Old Jaguar
- Black Panther
- Spot the Jaguar
- Tezcatlipoca
- Conservation Status
- A Jagua
Frequently Asked Questions
What noise do jaguars make?
Adult jaguars grunt or roar to communicate. Cubs gurgle, bleat, and mew.
Do jaguars eat humans?
Jaguars are the least likely of the big cats to kill and eat humans. The majority of attacks come when a jaguar has been cornered or wounded and feels threatened.
How fast can a jaguar run?
Jaguars can reach a speed of 80 km/h (50mph). They are fast runners but not as fast as cheetahs.
Can jaguars swim?
Jaguars are confident swimmers. They have adapted to living in wet environments and can be found swimming in both rivers and lakes in their environment.
What color are jaguars’ eyes?
Adult eye color ranges from reddish yellow to golden. Young cubs’ eyes are blue.
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Link will appear as Jaguar Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 19, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.