Jaguars

Fun facts

• It is the largest cat in the Americas. An adult can weigh between 60 and 120 kg depending on its habitat.
• Its jaw is the strongest of any cat. It can pierce shells and skulls in a single bite.
• Unlike most cats, they love the water. They swim, hunt fish and cool off in rivers and lagoons.
• They are mostly nocturnal. They roam territories of up to 130 km² in search of prey.
• Wild populations have shrunk dramatically. Deforestation, illegal trafficking and retaliatory hunting after livestock attacks are the main threats to the species today.

It ranges from northern Mexico to northern Argentina, including the Amazon basin. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.