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Range
The jaguar ranges from Mexio through Central and South America to central Patagonia. They are rare in north mexico.
Habitat
Jaguars live in grass plains, forests, steamy jungles, tropical rain forests, dense forests, and near swamps.
Size
The jaguar is 45 - 73 inches in length and weighs about 126 - 250 pounds.
Characteristics
The jaguar is a robust animal. It has large powerful teeth and jaws. The coat is basically yellowish-brown with black spots.
Behavior
The jaguar swims and climbs trees very well. They usually hunt on the ground though. These animals are nocturnal and stalks its prey awaiting to ambush.
Reproduction
Jaguars become sexually mature at 3 years of age. They breed from January to February in the northern part of their range. The gestation period of a jaguar is around 100 days before 2 - 4 kittens are born, each waing 1.5 - 2 pounds. They become fully visual at two weeks. The young ones stay with their mother for up to 2 whole years.
Lifespan
Jaguars can live from 15 - 18 years in the wild.
Diet
Jaguars eat a wide variety of animals. They are peccary, deer, tapirs, monkies, sloths, agouti, capybara (largest rodent in the world), caiman, fish, turtles, parrots, turkies, anacondas, and domestic livestock.
Predators
The only real danger to an adult jaguar are man. For young jaguar kittens, caiman and anacondas propose a threat.
