Jaguar Information
At A Glance

Here is a summary of the most relevant jaguar information pulled from different sources.

• The Jaguar’s scientific name is Panthera Onca
• It is closely related to the leopard and looks very much like it
• Jaguar is a mammal and one of the largest cats in the world (third largest after tigers and lions)
• Range: from south western US across Central America to Paraguay
• Habitat: mainly tropical rainforests but also open areas (mostly close to water sources)
• Current Estimated Jaguar Population: 15,000 individuals (1)
• Coat: tanned / dark yellow cover, with rosettes encapsulating dark spots in the middle. A jaguar's spotting pattern is unique to each individual. Occasionally variations in coat colour include black and white though the spots can always be seen
• Dimensions: 30 – 150 kg in weight and length – 1.62–1.83 cm plus a tail of 75 cm. Males are typically 10 – 20% larger than females
• Forest Jaguars: normally darker and smaller than the ones found in open areas
• Diet: favourite “meals” are peccaries, capybaras, deer, birds, crocodilians, fish etc. In total, more than 85 different prey (2)
• Unprovoked attacks on humans are rare (3)
• Threats: the loss of habitat (such as rainforests) and poaching as well as “revenge killings” by cattle ranchers (in case of jaguars eating livestock due to lack of their natural prey)
• Status: Near Threatened (4)