Tammy Gagne - Jaguars

Carney, Elizabeth. National Geographic Kids. Everything Big Cats. Washington, D.C.:National Geographic, 2011.

Dorisi-Winget, Dianna. w Leopards. Big Cats. Mankato, Minn.: Capstone Press, 2012.

Walker, Sally M. uars. Nature Watch. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2009.

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The rain forest is alive with sounds. Frogs croak, monkeys chatter, and parrots screech.But none of them hears the jaguar. It sits alone in a tree waiting for its .A white-tailed deer walks quietly below. As soon as the deer takes one more step,the jaguar pounces.

The jaguar is the biggest wildcat west of Africa It is the third largest cat in theworld. Only lions and tigers are bigger than jaguars.

prey a place where animals are cared for and protected

An adult jaguars body can measure up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. Its tail may addanother 30 inches (76 centimeters) to its length. Both males and females have stockybodies and large heads. Male jaguars weigh between 120 and 300 pounds (54 and 136kilograms). Females usually weigh about 70 pounds (32 kg).

Jaguars arent as fast or as tall as the largest cats from Africa and Asia. Jaguarsstand between 27 and 30 inches (69 and 76 cm) tall from their shoulders to the ground.These cats rely on their and strength for their survival.

Size Comparison Chart

The average height of an American male is 5 feet, 10 inches (178 centimeters).

ON THES POT

A jaguars coat has spots. These black marks appear in clusters on the animals body.From far away a jaguar looks like it has many single spots. Up close you can seethat these are actually groups of spots. Single spots appear only on the animalshead, legs, and tail.

The base of a jaguars coat is golden brown or black. Even black jaguars have spots,but you have to look closely to see them.

Big Cat Fact

Some Native Americans believed the jaguar was the god of night, thelord of the underworld.

SHRINKING HOME

Jaguars once lived as far north as Oregon and as far south as northeast Argentinain South America. Today their mainly includes areas of Central and South America.A small number can be found in Arizona and New Mexico.

Many jaguars live in the Amazon rain forest, which is found in the northern partof South America. They can also be found in other . Jaguars may live in forests,grasslands, mountain scrub areas, or swamps.

Jaguars have no predators other than humans. They have an average life span of 12to 15 years. Jaguars kept in zoos can live up to 30 years.

Copycats?

Jaguars and leopards look a lot alike. Both big cats have golden brown or black furwith black spots. But a leopard has single spots instead of groups of spots. Bothcats are also about the same size. But the jaguar has a bigger head and a stockierbuild. The jaguar also has a shorter, thicker tail. Another difference is where thecats live. Leopards live in Africa and Asia.

Jaguars are mighty hunters. Like most cats, jaguars hunt mostly at night. Jaguarsare neither . They sleep whenever and wherever it is safe. Andwhile they prefer to hunt at night, they will hunt whenever the opportunity arises.

These cats have strong jaws and sharp teeth. They usually make a kill in a singlebite. Other big cats kill their prey by biting the animals neck. Jaguars kill bycrushing their preys skull or spine. This powerful bite usually kills the animalinstantly.

Big Cat Fact

Jaguars will travel great distances to find food. They may not be ableto outrun their prey, but they can easily overpower it. Jaguars sneak up and jumponto their prey.

Jaguars have strong legs that are useful for climbing. They can climb steep slopesand trees. Sometimes they climb trees and wait to attack their prey from above.

Jaguars almost always hunt alone. The only time jaguars hunt with others is whenthey teach their cubs. When cubs are learning how to hunt, a mother doesnt alwayskill the prey. Sometimes she will injure it so the cubs can learn to kill the animal.

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