by Tammy L Mahan

Created on: February 19, 2008   Last Updated: January 01, 2009

The jaguar is the most beautiful and respected wild cat. There are nine subspecies of the jaguar, belonging to the panthera family. The jaguar is the third largest of the wild cats, following closely behind the lion and tiger species.

In ancient times they were found living primarily in North and South America in unpopulated areas. Today these beautiful, powerful wild cats can be found roaming in more populated areas of Mexico, Southern California, Arizona, Texas and Nevada.

~ Physical Appearance ~

The jaguar ranges in length form six to nine feet, from the tip of the nose to the end of their tail. An adult males average weight is between 125 to 275 pounds. The adult females length and weight is slightly less than the males. The jaguar has a slim, muscular body, powerful jaw, sharp claws and scissor like teeth. The cat sports a beautiful tan, black spotted coat which is easily recognizable.

~ Habitat ~

The jaguar is not picky about where it lives they can be found in the mountains, grasslands, rainforests, wooded areas and swamps. They also love the water and can be found frolicking, fishing, swimming, bathing and sunning them self in rivers and streams.

~ Diet ~

The jaguar will eat just about anything that doesn't eat it first. Its meal preference is fish, frogs, snakes, monkeys, deer, sloth's, anteaters, aardvarks, deer and even crocodiles.

The jaguar is a powerful animal that can take down another animal that is bigger than its self, it is an excellent hunter and stalks its prey for hours. If necessary it will even climb a tree to gain more leverage in an attack and jump on its prey surprising it. It kills it one bite, by crushing the preys skull with its powerful jaws.

~ Mating and Reproduction ~

Jaguars have a territory within their habitats. The male jaguar's territory is between 20 and 50 miles. A female's territory is much smaller between 10 and 30 miles.

Mating occurs year round while jaguars are solitude cats the males do share their territory with the females they mate with, often with as many as a dozen of them. This keeps the females from mating with other males. As male jaguars have a mutual understanding and respect for one another's territory.

In the event a jaguar wanders into the territory of another adult males, the adult territorial male will become very aggressive and let out a loud deep roar to warn his females of the intruder.

The gestation period is 95 to 105 days and the female gives birth to as many as five kittens per litter. The kittens stay

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