The Jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest and most powerful of the American members of the cat family, Felidae. The Jaguar is found as far north as Mexico and throughout South America, but it is especially abundant in the dense forests of Central America and Brazil. A mature jaguar is more than two metres long and stands 60 centimetres high at the shoulder. Its coat is a rich yellow, spotted with large black rosettes, each consisting of a circle of spots surrounding a central spot. The head and body are massive, and the legs are relatively short and thick. An adept climber and an excellent swimmer, the animal feeds on a wide range of arboreal, terrestrial, and aquatic animals. Although feared, it rarely attacks humans; in the pre-Columbian civilizations of Peru and Central America, it was worshiped as a god. Today the Jaguar is extensively hunted because of ranchers' claims that it attacks cattle, although studies indicate that such attacks are infrequent. In the tropical part of their range, Jaguars
appear to mate in any season, but elsewhere they mate during the latter part of the year. After a gestation period of about 100 days, the female bears two to four cubs, which reach maturity at about the age of two. The Jaguar has a life span of about 20 years. Research Jaguar
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Nature
Research Jaguar
