Jaguar

Question 1

How is the jaguar different from the leopard?

Answer 1

It has a more muscular body, is larger, lives in the Americas, and has a different coat pattern. The coat features “bullseye” spots in the middle of the body. the leopard and the cheetah have solid spots.

Question 2

Why are forest jaguars generally smaller?

Answer 2

Probably because of lack of large herbivores to feed upon.

Question 3

How big are jaguars?

Answer 3

Between 57 and 107 inches long with shoulder heights of 27 to 30 inches.

Question 4

How much do jaguars weigh?

Answer 4

Male: 125 - 320 pounds
Female: 75 - 220 pounds

Question 5

What is the gestation period of the jaguar?

Answer 5

91 - 110 days

Question 6

How many cubs does the jaguar have?

Answer 6

1 - 4

Question 7

At what age do jaguars reach sexual maturity?

Answer 7

Females: 2 - 3 years
Males: 3 - 4 years

Question 8

How long do jaguars live?

Answer 8

Average of 16.8 years. 23 is the max in captivity.

Question 9

What is the current range and habitat of the jaguar?

Answer 9

They live near water sources in swampy grasslands, lowland forests, tropical forests, and deciduous mountain forests up to 8,000 feet. They range from Mexico to Argentina.

Question 10

What is the historical range of the jaguar?

Answer 10

From Arizona and New Mexico to the tip of South America.

Question 11

How large is a jaguar territory?

Answer 11

220 square miles

Question 12

What do jaguars eat?

Answer 12

Basically anything they can catch. They prefer large mammals but will also take birds, reptiles, fish, and carrion.

Question 13

What do jaguars do if they can’t finish their food?

Answer 13

They cover it and save it for later.

Question 14

When are jaguars active?

Answer 14

They are mostly nocturnal, but are also one of the more active cats during the day.

Question 15

How do jaguars kill their prey?

Answer 15

They crush the skull.

Question 16

Can jaguars swim and climb?

Answer 16

Yes, but they are not as agile as leopards.

Question 17

What are some of the adaptions of the jaguar?

Answer 17

Crushing Jaws: The powerful jaws allow jaguars to crush the skulls of their prey.
Camouflage: Their coat hides them and allows them to ambush prey.
Night Vision: Their vision is six times more acute than that of a human in poor light.

Question 18

What are some predators of the jaguar?

Answer 18

They are an apex predator. Humans are their only threat.

Question 19

Why don’t jaguars and cougars fight?

Answer 19

They are active at different times of the day and live in different habitats.

Question 20

Are jaguars endangered?

Answer 20

Though they are considered to be “Near threatened” overall, the jaguar is classified as endangered in many parts of its range.

Question 21

What are some threats to the survival of the jaguar?

Answer 21

People are destroying their habitat and killing them for fur. Shooting them to protect cattle is also legal in many parts of their range.

Question 22

Why is it difficult to estimate the population of the jaguar?

Answer 22

They are elusive and live in dense forest.

Question 23

Where does the name of the jaguar come from?

Answer 23

It comes from the guarani word “yaguara” which means “the beast that kills with one leap”

Question 24

Where is the only possible population of jaguars in the United States?

Answer 24

Tuscon

Question 25

Are jaguars aggressive toward humans?

Answer 25

No, jaguars usually run from humans and only attack if they are wounded of threatened.

Question 26

What percent of jaguars are melanistic?

Answer 26

Six percent. This is unusually high, so it is theorized that the melanistic gene may be dominant.

Question 27

What country has the jaguar as its national animal?

Answer 27

Guyana.

Question 28

What did Mayans believe jaguars had the power to do?

Answer 28

Create connections between the living and the dead.

Question 29

What was the elite class of Aztec warriors called?

Answer 29

Jaguar knights.

Question 30

How many pounds will the jaguar eat per feeding?

Answer 30

Around 50.