JAGUAR Scientific name :Penthera onca

JAGUAR
Scientific name :Penthera onca
Jaguars are the largest of beings from the South American's big cats. They are the third biggest cats in the world, after African Lion and Asian Tiger.
Range and habitat
Jaguars is found in the United States (central and western part) and in South America.It has been an American cat .They inhabit grasslands, woodlands and swamps. Its present range extends from Mexico, through Central America and into South America, including much of Amazonian Brazil.The countries included in this range are Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica , Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, United States and Venezuela.
Physical characteristics
They are dark in colour while females are generally lighter. The jaguars have got large rounded head with powerful jaw and knife-sharp teeth which are able to break a neck. Extremely agile and muscular body and strong legs with claws enable them to climb trees without any obstacles.They are approximately 5 feet long with a tail measuring 30 inches and weighing up to 250 pounds. The females are smaller.
Subspecies
There are three subspecies.
1.Jaguar: Venezuela through the Amazon, including
Jaguar peruviana (Peruvian Jaguar): Coastal Peru
2.Jaguar hernandesii (Mexican Jaguar): Western Mexico – including
Jaguar centralis (Central American Jaguar): El Salvador to Colombia
Jaguar arizonensis (Arizonan Jaguar): Southern Arizona to Sonora, Mexico
Jaguar veraecrucis: Central Texas to Southeastern Mexico
Jaguar goldmani (Goldman's Jaguar): Yucatán Peninsula to Belize and Guatemala
3.Jaguar palustris (the largest subspecies, weighing more than 135 kg ) The Pantanal regions of Mato Grosso & Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, along the Paraguay River into Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.
Hunting and diet
Jaguar prefers large prey and will take adult caiman (a form of small alligator), deer, capybara, tapirs, peccaries, dogs, foxes, and sometimes even anacondas.Its diet consists mainly of other animals for instance deer, rodents, hares, reptiles, birds, fish, monkeys etc. They can kill they prey by using their sharp teeth and extraordinary strong jaw. They can reach and jump at a very high speed so they can catch up almost any animal. Apart from that they are also perfect swimmers. They are solitary animals and hunt for food usually alone especially before dawn and at dusk.
Reproduction
Jaguar females reach sexual maturity at about two years of age, and males at three or four.Females give birth to typically two or three cubs. They are generally born between the month of December and March. It is not common for Jaguar cubs to be born throughout the year. Jaguars are blind and helpless at birth. They gain sight after about two weeks. The mother stays with them and protects them from other animals, including their father. The female Jaguar becomes very protective at this stage. The cubs learn to hunt by staying with their mother for two or more years.
Predatory
Apex predators are predators that have no predators of their own, residing at the top of their food chain. Apex predator species are often at the top of long food chains, where they have a crucial role in maintaining the health of their ecosystems.

Life expectancy
Life span is approximately 15 years.