Jaguar (Panthera onca)

 

Jaguars are of a powerful muscular build and are capable of killing prey with a single bite, which can pierce the skull. The translation of their name in Indian is ‘beast that kills its prey with one bound.’ They have attractive coats which once made them a prime target for hunters collecting for the international fur trade. The gold background of the coat is adorned with an intricate pattern of black spots, ringed by dark coloured rosettes. They have white cheeks, throats and light coloured fur on their bellies. Those jaguars found in the thickest areas of forestry tend to be smaller than those which roam in more open areas.

What they eat

They eat a wide range of other mammals, from small species to domestic cattle, as well as some reptiles and fish, hunting opportunistically for available food.

Biology

Jaguars are most active at dawn and at dusk, generally being solitary in nature, although males and females share territories when breeding. Males reach sexually maturity at about four years of age, while females are mature at two to three years. Females will have a litter of between one and four cubs, after a gestation time of up to 111 days. Females care for the cubs after birth and the young will stay with the mother for up to two years before becoming fully independent.