The jaguar, Panthera onca, is a carnivorous mammal from the Felidae family which lives in the Central and South American rainforests. It is the largest of the big cats in America and the third largest in the world after the lion and the tiger.
Profile
Near Threatened (NT)
Lifestyle
Jaguars are solitary hunters, able to swim and carry their prey into the trees where they sleep.
Distinctive features
They are the largest felines on the continent and come third behind lions and tigers in the ranking of the world's biggest cats!
Its coat is dotted with dark rosettes that help it to camouflage.
Its jaw is the most powerful of all felids, making its bite fatal.
Anecdote
Hunting them is now banned everywhere except Bolivia. Although jaguars still suffer from the skin trade, their greatest threat is the disappearance of the primary forests where they live.
