The jaguar ( Panthera onca ) is the largest member of the cat family (Felidae) in the New World. They are found from northern Mexico to northern Argentina, with the largest population in the Amazon rainforest. Though their preferred habitats are swamps and wooded regions, they also inhabit scrublands and deserts. Jaguars have orange-tan coats covered in black spots arranged as rosettes, each with a black spot in the center, and a row of black spots along their backs that may merge into a stripe. Male jaguars are larger than females, weighing 220 to 350 pounds and measuring 5.6 to 9 feet long. As apex predators, jaguars are solitary stalk-and-ambush hunters that prey on rodents, deer, birds, crocodilians, and fish. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified the jaguar as a near-threatened species since 2002.

Where do jaguars live in the wild?

Jaguars, the largest cat species in the New World, range from northern Mexico to northern Argentina. They can be found in swamps, wooded regions, scrublands, and deserts. The largest known jaguar population lives in the Amazon rainforest. Though their historic range once stretched from the U.S.-Mexico border to Patagonia, Argentina, jaguars are now virtually extinct in the northern part of their original range and survive in reduced numbers in remote areas of Central and South America. Habitat loss, hunting, and retaliatory killings due to livestock loss have decreased their geographic range and population. It's estimated that 64,000 jaguars remain in the wild, with approximately 89 percent of them in the Amazon River basin.

The jaguar ( Panthera onca ) is the largest cat in the New World and a solitary predator that stalks and ambushes its prey. While active during the day, jaguars typically hunt at night on the ground. Their preferred prey includes capybaras and peccaries, but they also eat deer, birds, crocodilians, and fish. Jaguars will also attack livestock in areas where ranches have replaced their natural habitats. As apex predators, jaguars have no natural predators and sit at the top of the food chain.

How do jaguars hunt their prey?

The jaguar is a solitary stalk-and-ambush hunter, a technique reflected in its name, which means "he who kills with one leap" in the Tupí-Guaraní language. Though they may be active during the day, jaguars typically hunt on the ground at night. Their preferred prey includes capybaras and peccaries, but they also consume deer, birds, crocodilians, and fish. In areas where ranches have replaced natural habitats, jaguars will occasionally attack livestock.

What are some physical features that make jaguars unique?

The jaguar, Panthera onca , is the largest cat in the New World, with a habitat ranging from northern Mexico to Argentina. Their coat is typically orange-tan with black spots arranged as rosettes, each having a black spot in the center, though the base color can range from white to black. Along their back, a row of long black spots may merge into a stripe. Jaguars are larger and more heavily built than leopards, which lack the black center spot within the rosettes. Male jaguars can grow to be between 5.6 and 9 feet long, with a tail that measures 2 to 3 feet, and they can weigh between 220 and 350 pounds. Their sound repertoire includes snarls, growls, and deep hoarse grunts.

Why are jaguars considered important for their ecosystem?

Jaguars are important to their ecosystems because, as apex predators , they regulate the populations of other species, preventing any single species from dominating the community. Their role in controlling prey populations helps maintain biodiversity and balance within the ecosystem. Additionally, the presence of jaguars can influence the behavior of other animals, creating a more dynamic and complex ecological web. Though habitat loss has reduced their numbers, jaguars continue to play a crucial role where they are present.

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Jaguar (Panthera onca) with a spotted coat stands among green foliage, looking directly at the camera.

Glimpse the Amazon Rainforest's diverse wildlife, from anacondas and sloths to macaws and capybaras

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Also called:: el tigre or tigre americano

Related Topics:: black panther; apex predator; jaguar cult; Panthera

On the Web:: World Animal Rescue Network - Jaguar (Nov. 08, 2026)

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Also known as: Leo onca, Panthera onca, el tigre, tigre americano(Show More)

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Top Questions

What is a jaguar?
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest member of the cat family (Felidae) in the New World. They are found from northern Mexico to northern Argentina, with the largest population in the Amazon rainforest. Though their preferred habitats are swamps and wooded regions, they also inhabit scrublands and deserts.

Jaguars have orange-tan coats covered in black spots arranged as rosettes, each with a black spot in the center, and a row of black spots along their backs that may merge into a stripe. Male jaguars are larger than females, weighing 220 to 350 pounds and measuring 5.6 to 9 feet long.

As apex predators, jaguars are solitary stalk-and-ambush hunters that prey on rodents, deer, birds, crocodilians, and fish. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified the jaguar as a near-threatened species since 2002.
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Where do jaguars live in the wild?
Jaguars, the largest cat species in the New World, range from northern Mexico to northern Argentina. They can be found in swamps, wooded regions, scrublands, and deserts. The largest known jaguar population lives in the Amazon rainforest.

Though their historic range once stretched from the U.S.-Mexico border to Patagonia, Argentina, jaguars are now virtually extinct in the northern part of their original range and survive in reduced numbers in remote areas of Central and South America. Habitat loss, hunting, and retaliatory killings due to livestock loss have decreased their geographic range and population. It's estimated that 64,000 jaguars remain in the wild, with approximately 89 percent of them in the Amazon River basin.
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What do jaguars eat?
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest cat in the New World and a solitary predator that stalks and ambushes its prey. While active during the day, jaguars typically hunt at night on the ground.

Their preferred prey includes capybaras and peccaries, but they also eat deer, birds, crocodilians, and fish. Jaguars will also attack livestock in areas where ranches have replaced their natural habitats. As apex predators, jaguars have no natural predators and sit at the top of the food chain.
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How do jaguars hunt their prey?
The jaguar is a solitary stalk-and-ambush hunter, a technique reflected in its name, which means "he who kills with one leap" in the Tupí-Guaraní language. Though they may be active during the day, jaguars typically hunt on the ground at night.

Their preferred prey includes capybaras and peccaries, but they also consume deer, birds, crocodilians, and fish. In areas where ranches have replaced natural habitats, jaguars will occasionally attack livestock.
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2. jaguarundi
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What are some physical features that make jaguars unique?
The jaguar, Panthera onca, is the largest cat in the New World, with a habitat ranging from northern Mexico to Argentina. Their coat is typically orange-tan with black spots arranged as rosettes, each having a black spot in the center, though the base color can range from white to black. Along their back, a row of long black spots may merge into a stripe.

Jaguars are larger and more heavily built than leopards, which lack the black center spot within the rosettes. Male jaguars can grow to be between 5.6 and 9 feet long, with a tail that measures 2 to 3 feet, and they can weigh between 220 and 350 pounds. Their sound repertoire includes snarls, growls, and deep hoarse grunts.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why are jaguars considered important for their ecosystem?
Jaguars are important to their ecosystems because, as apex predators, they regulate the populations of other species, preventing any single species from dominating the community. Their role in controlling prey populations helps maintain biodiversity and balance within the ecosystem. Additionally, the presence of jaguars can influence the behavior of other animals, creating a more dynamic and complex ecological web. Though habitat loss has reduced their numbers, jaguars continue to play a crucial role where they are present.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

jaguar, (Panthera onca), largest New World member of the cat family (Felidae), found from northern Mexico southward to northern Argentina. Its preferred habitats are usually swamps and wooded regions, but jaguars also live in scrublands and deserts. The jaguar is virtually extinct in the northern part of its original range and survives in reduced numbers only in remote areas of Central and South America; the largest known population exists in the Amazon rainforest.

Typical coloration is orange to tan, with black spots arranged in rosettes with a black spot in the centre. The jaguar resembles the leopard of Africa and Asia, but the leopard lacks the black centre spot. Along the midline of the jaguar’s back is a row of long black spots that may merge into a stripe. The base colour of the jaguar varies greatly from white to black. Although brown and black jaguars appear to be solid-coloured, spots are always faintly visible.

Jaguars are also larger and more heavily built than leopards. The male jaguar, which is generally larger than the female, attains a length of 1.7–2.7 metres (5.6–9 feet), including the 0.6–0.9-metre (2–3-foot) tail, with a shoulder height of 0.7–0.8 metre (2.3–2.6 feet); it weighs from 100 to 160 kg (220 to 350 pounds). South American jaguars are larger than those of Central America. The jaguar is grouped along with lions and tigers with the big, or roaring, cats and is the only such cat in the Western Hemisphere. Its sound repertoire includes snarls, growls, and deep hoarse grunts.

Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.

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A solitary predator, the jaguar is a stalk-and-ambush hunter; its name comes from yaguar, the Tupí-Guaraní word meaning “he who kills with one leap.” Jaguars are swift and agile and are very good climbers. They enter water freely and appear to enjoy bathing. Although active during the day, jaguars hunt mainly at night and on the ground. Capybara and peccary are their preferred prey, but they will also take deer, birds, crocodilians, and fish. Livestock are occasionally attacked in areas where ranches have replaced natural habitat. The cat is a savage fighter when cornered but does not normally attack humans.

Jaguars adhere to a land tenure system much like cougars and tigers. Females establish overlapping home ranges, and female offspring may inherit land from their mothers. Males establish territories twice as large as females and overlap the ranges of several females. Both sexes mark their ranges with urine. Northern populations mate toward the end of the year, but in the tropics mating activity seems not to be restricted to a particular breeding season. After a gestation period of about 100 days, the female bears one to four tiny spotted cubs weighing 100–900 grams (less than 2 pounds) that do not open their eyes for 13 days. The mother raises the young for approximately two years. Full size and sexual maturity are reached at three to four years.

The geographic range of the jaguar once extended from the U.S.-Mexico border as far north as the Grand Canyon southward to Patagonia, Argentina. Habitat loss and fragmentation, trophy hunting, the illegal trade in body parts, and retaliatory killings stemming from the loss of livestock have reduced the jaguar’s geographic range and its population. Wildlife officials estimate that 64,000 jaguars remain, with some 89 percent of the global population living in the Amazon River basin. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified the jaguar as a near threatened species since 2002.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.

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