The jaguar, also known as the black jaguar, is a species of carnivorous mammal of the felid family found in the Americas.
Jaguars are found in different environments, ranging from forests to open environments. In the countries where they are found, jaguars live in forest environments and in open environments. In Brazil, we can observe them, for example, in the Amazon, the Atlantic Forest, the Pantanal and the Cerrado.
This carnivorous mammal is considered the largest feline in the Americas and the largest carnivorous animal in South America. Currently, it has been threatened due to hunting and the destruction of its habitat.
The jaguar is an animal of large proportions, reaching about 130 kg and measuring up to 2.4 meters in length. The coat of this animal is also quite characteristic, with a color that varies from yellow to brown and black spots in the form of rosettes of different sizes. It is worth noting that other animals have spots on their bodies similar to those of the jaguar, such as the ocelot and the leopard.
Jaguars have exceptionally strong jaws, boasting the most powerful bites of any big cat. This allows it to pierce the hard shell of reptiles such as the turtle and to use an unusual killing method: it bites directly through the prey's skull between the ears, a fatal bite to the brain.
It is a twilight and solitary animal. It hunts through ambushes, being an important predator at the top of the food chain and can eat any animal it is able to capture, playing a role in stabilizing ecosystems and regulating populations of prey species. However, it has a preference for large herbivores, being able to attack domestic cattle.
The jaguar is a very emblematic species of Brazil and enchants for its size and striking colors. Here are some curious characteristics that make the jaguar even more interesting:
- It's the biggest cat in the Americas.
- It is the largest carnivore in South America.
- Not present in Pampa.
- It is at the top of the food chain in the areas where it is found.
- It feeds on more than 85 different species.
- The power of a jaguar's bite is the highest when compared to that of other felines.
- Lives about 15 years.
- Newborn jaguar cubs weigh between 700 grams and 900 grams.
- Puppies are born without being able to see, opening their eyes between 7 days and 13 days after birth.
- Despite being felines, jaguars do not meow, but emit a kind of snoring, called snort.
- The spots on a jaguar's body are different from those found on leopards. While in jaguars the spot is rosette-shaped with a circle surrounding a central black spot, in leopards the spot is in the shape of a circle.
- The black jaguar and the jaguar, in fact, are of the same species, however, it is observed that the jaguar has more melanin, which gives a darker color to its fur.
Reading and references about the jaguar:
https://www.preparaenem.com/biologia/onca-pintada.htm
https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/animais/onca-pintada.htm