Species Introduction: Jaguar

Stemming from the Tupi-Guarani word yaguara, meaning ‘wild beast that overcomes its prey at a bound’, the jaguar is the 3rd largest cat species in the world and the only big cat to reside in the Americas.

It is a formidable animal packed with muscle and guile in equal measure, equally adept. Illusive and magnificent, the breathtaking jaguar is at the top of most visitors’ bucket list.

Characteristics - What do Jaguars look like?

Jaguars are spectacular animals, as beautiful as they are deadly. They are similar in appearance to the leopard, but larger and stockier and are considered the 3rd most powerful big cat behind the lion and the tiger. Their base coat colour ranges from yellow to dark orange but are characterised by their large rosettes, often with a black spot in the centre. These markings are the perfect camouflage to help them blend into their preferred habitat of tropical rainforest and dense vegetation. The rosettes mimic the dappled light that filters through the foliage, allowing the jaguar to move with unprecedented stealth and is a vital part of their hunting strategy.

Jaguars exhibit some form of sexual dimorphism, although not to the extent of the leopard, with females being some 10-20% smaller than males. It is worth noting that regional populations show markedly different weights, increasing in southern populations. Jaguars recorded in Mexico only reach around 50 kg, whereas those in Brazil average close to 90 kg. This is most likely due to the prevalence of larger prey animals.

The jaguar is probably most famous for its melanistic morph, known colloquiality as the black panther. This is not a different species, but rather a recessive gene that causes a higher percentage of melanin (a dark pigment) in the skin and fur. On close inspection, the characteristic rosette pattern is still visible despite its overall black appearance. Due to this genetic abnormality, melanistic morphs are rare but a highlight for any wildlife lover.

Where do Jaguars live?

The preferred habitat

Jaguars are usually found in dense forest habitats where their striking camouflage affords them the best chance of hunting success. Deciduous forests, tropical and sub-tropical forests, rainforests and cloud forests form the bulk of their preferred habitat. Unlike most other big cats, jaguars are good and regular swimmers and are often concentrated around riverine and swampy areas.

Their distribution range

Until relatively recently, a very small population of jaguars had been sighted in the southern United States, but their current range sees them occupy up to 18 countries spanning Central and northern South America, with the southern-most populations found in the north of Argentina.

Brazil is home to nearly half of the remaining numbers and its rainforests and the famous Pantanal region of Brazil and neighbouring countries. For anyone wishing to search for this elusive predator, this is the best bet for success!

Diet - What do Jaguars eat?

Jaguars are obligate carnivores but are opportunistic in their prey selection, taking pretty much anything they can catch. Food size ranges from 1 kg right up to 130 kg depending on their size. Its most common prey items include the capybara (the largest rodent in the world) and the giant anteater. Deer species also form part of the menu, with those occupying wetter areas taking reptilian as well as mammalian prey such as turtles. There are various reports and videos documenting jaguars successfully hunting caimans. Unlike the other big cats, its modus operandi is to bite its prey directly through the skull, as opposed to other big cats that prefer to asphyxiate their prey by clamping down on the windpipe.

Behaviour of Jaguars - how do Jaguars live?

Social behaviour

Like all big cats, with the exception of the lion, jaguars are solitary animals, only seen together when mating or when a female has young offspring.

They are crepuscular animals by nature, operating mainly at dusk and dawn and through the dead of night, using darkness as their ally in their stealthy hunting strategy.

Traditionally, same-sex territories do not overlap, and male territories are larger than females, often encompassing multiple female territories depending on population densities and a given animal’s dominance hierarchy.

Reproduction of Jaguars

Jaguars reach sexual maturity around the age of 2.5-3 years, although this will be dictated by population densities. Females come into oestrus for between 7-12 days every 40-50 days. During this time, she will release pheromones and vocalise to attract a mate.

When a mating pair comes together, they will mate multiple times to induce ovulation before being solitary once again. The gestation period is between 91-111 days and will culminate in 1 to 2 offspring being born. Young are altricial, born with eyes closed and helpless, relying on their mother’s milk for the first few months before being weaned onto solid food. Cubs generally remain with their mother for up to 2 years before embarking on a solitary existence. Males perform no role in parental care.

Life expectancy in the wild is around 10 years, but captive animals have been recorded to live up to 22 years.

Communication of Jaguars

Communication is predominantly facilitated via olfactory and audible cues. Individuals mark territory by spraying urine laced with pheromones containing information about that specific animal.

They will also scrape with their feet to mark territory, utilising inter-digital glands(between the toes) to mark the ground, as well as rubbing their feet in their urine, thus leaving a scent trail as they walk.

Jaguars, like all bug cats (Panthera genus), have the ability to roar thanks to a specific make-up of the bones in the throat, which allow for the larynx to be extended, producing low frequency, guttural roars to advertise territory over long distances. Close contact communication involves various grunts and growls.

Endangerment - What are the biggest threats to Jaguars?

Jaguars are threatened mainly due to habitat loss and deforestation due to the ever-growing pressure of urbanisation and the spread of agricultural activities. Fragmentation of their range causes populations to become isolated, meaning that genetic diversity is lost. Historically, jaguars have lost 50% of their habitat, with a 20% decline in the last 14 years. Since 2000, they have become locally extinct in El Salvador and Uruguay.

The illegal trade in jaguars for the pet trade and for their parts, particularly their pelt and teeth, is also a huge concern. Hunting for the coats was only made illegal in the 1970s, but as the erosion of their natural range increases, jaguars are forced into more agricultural lands where they hunt livestock and are removed in human-animal conflict.

Why the Jaguar is so important

Like any apex predator, jaguars are a keystone species in their ecosystem. They help to maintain the delicate balance of organisms within an area by controlling the number of prey species. Without them, other animals would increase and in turn, those animals would impact the environment and cause an imbalance to the detriment of a whole range of other species.

Thanks to the ‘green’ mentality growing amongst many of today’s travellers, they also drive a healthy trade in wildlife tourism, bringing in much-needed money to poorer countries, as well as funding programs to help protect their habitat and ensure their own survival.