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Jaguar

Panthera onca

"Intent"

The jaguar is the largest American wildcat.  It could once be found in areas ranging from Arizona to Argentina, however, ruthless hunting has reduced its population.

The jaguar is a solitary animal, living and hunting on its own.  Males and females meet in the wild only to mate.  The male leaves the female when mating is over and the female is left to bring up the cubs on her own.  She will usually give birth to one to four cubs and they will remain with her for the first two years of their life. 

Jaguars are good swimmers and love to be near water.  They are also very good at fishing.  Patiently waiting for the fish in a stream, the jaguar will sometimes flick the tip of its tail in the water to lure the fish in and then swipe it out of the water with its front paw.  Besides fish, its diet also consists of cattle, deer, monkeys, and lizards.  What it eats depends on where it lives. 

Often confused with the leopard, the jaguar is a larger animal through body, head and jaw.  The jaguar is one of the few big cats that does not roar.