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The jaguar, Panthera onca, is a big cat native to parts of South America. It's name comes from the indigenous word 'Yaguar,' meaning 'He who kills with one leap.'. A fitting name indeed, as jaguars have one of the most powerful bites among the big cats, strong enough to (1/?)
pierce the tough, scaly hides of reptiles and sever skulls. They once roamed parts of North America, but their range has decreased so dramatically over time that they are only indigenous to parts of South America. Only two wild jaguars roam North America today. (2/?)
Jaguars, like tigers, are semi-aquatic. Their prey consists of many aquatic animals, such as the crocodile-like caiman, capybaras, cervids, anacondas, otters, and even black bears and spectacled bears. They're often confused with leopards, but the difference is simple. (3/?)
To identify a jaguar and a leopard, look at the rosettes and the overall bulk of the animal. Top row are jaguars, bottom row leopards. Note how much bulkier jaguars are, and note how the rosettes are larger and in the inside are spots. Though some leopards can have spots too! (4/
Both animals' cryptic colorizations aid in camouflage and breaking out their outline, and both animals are often referred to as "panthers," but the term refers to, for the most part, any melanistic big cat. Here are some camouflaged jaguars! (5/?)
Unlike lions and tigers, female jaguars don't really have another name... female tigers and lions are known as tigresses and lionesses respectively, but female jaguars are just known as female jaguars. Jaguars have no defined breeding season and will mate any time of the year (6
and females will give birth to 2-4 cubs. Jaguars on average live 12-15 years. (7/8)
Jaguars, like many other animals, are threatened. They're often hunted by humans for their coats, their homes destroyed to make space for civilization. Conflict between man and jaguars is common as jaguars kill cattle for food. We should preserve these beautiful beasts. (8/8)
Long thread, but it does not end here! Meet El Jefe, one of the only wild jaguars living in America today. (After doing more research, he seems to be the only one.) He lives in the state of Arizona, southeast of Tuscon.
This thread kinda seems like a mess, not gonna lie. Very unorganized. Enjoy jaguar facts regardless! They're one of my favorite animals.
