Escudo de la República de Colombia Escudo de la República de Colombia
Panel de Accesibilidad

✎ Andrés Rodriguez

✎ Andrés Rodriguez

✎ Camilo Alméciga

Jaguar
Panthera oncaAmazon region

  • Generalities
  • Morpho-functionality
  • Lifecycle
  • Distribution

RECORRIDO VIRTUAL POR LA BIODIVERSIDAD DE COLOMBIA
Museo de Historia Natural
Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Jaguar
Panthera onca

This is the largest feline species in America. They are mainly nocturnal and have the felines strongest bite, this makes it easier for them to attack directly the skull of their prey. They feed on small, medium and large mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and birds which they hunt by ambush. It is a very important species in the ecosystems in which it lives as it helps regulation of other species populations. It lives up to 20 years. It has great affinity with water.

Conservation status

Extinct

Extinct in the Wild

Critically Endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near Threatened

Least Concern

Not Evaluated

Data Deficient

Morpho-functionality

Strength

It is a powerful but not fast animal, thanks to its jaws and muscles it is capable of carrying a more than 30 kg prey.

Spots

The spots on its coat help it blend in with the dense vegetation of the woods and jungles.

Claws

Its retractable claws help it make less noise when walking, while the claws can be extended when climbing and also aid in catching prey.

Lifecycle

The heat lasts about 37 days. Jaguars mate all year round, but copulation increases in the months of December to March, coinciding with the rainy season, when the number of prey increases. After a gestation period of 91 to 111 days, females give birth to one to four cubs. The cubs are born with their eyes closed and are breastfed until five or six months of age, then they will accompany their mother to hunt and will depend on her until they are two years old, when they learn to protect, feed and orient themselves. Female sexual maturity occurs between 12 and 24 months, while in males it occurs between 24 and 36 months.

Jaguar

Distribution

It has a wide distribution throughout the American continent, mainly in the Neotropics although their populations have been substantially reduced or eliminated in regions such as El Salvador, the United States, northern Mexico and southern Argentina. Currently, the largest population of jaguars is found in the Amazon basin and extends to the southern and eastern coasts of the Caribbean. They prefer areas of dense vegetation such as lowland tropical humid forests, reed thickets, coastal forests, weeds and swamps. Being excellent swimmers, they are seen also near rivers, slow streams, lagoons and riparian forests.

Distribution area