23 interesting facts about jaguars

Strong, hardy, intelligent and graceful jaguars are one of the largest cats on Earth. In nature, they occupy the top of the food chain, belonging to the highest predators, and very few people are able to escape from his claws and teeth if the jaguar decides to dine with them. However, they rarely attack people, but it is better not to meet a jaguar on a narrow path. Although this is almost impossible due to their stealth, these animals can disguise themselves incredibly well.

Interesting facts about jaguars:

The zone controlled by the jaguar is in shape an almost regular triangle with side length of 5-10 kilometers. Two or three times a week, the animal goes to a new place, when all the potential prey in the old one has either been eaten or scared away.

Of all the big cats that live in the Americas, jaguars are the largest. Tigers and lions, it is true, surpass them in size, but they are found only in Africa and Eurasia.

In the Guarani language spoken in Paraguay, the word «jaguar» means «the beast that kills with one leap».

In some Latin American countries, like Uruguay, these animals have been completely exterminated. Local farmers had a hand in this, as jaguars often attacked their herds.

The jaws of the jaguar are larger and more powerful than those of any other feline, including tigers and lions.

There have been recorded cases of jaguars hunting even such dangerous opponents as crocodiles and anacondas.

When two jaguars meet on the same hunting grounds, they almost never fight. But other big cats are driven away mercilessly.

Only females are engaged in raising kittens. Males, after a series of short meetings, leave forever.

The largest jaguar weighed 158 kg, while he was not fat. But in general, the weight of these animals usually does not exceed 90-110 kg.

Most often, speaking of panthers, they mean a black jaguar. This is exactly the same animal, just differently colored due to a slight genetic difference.

The Maya Indians called the best warriors warriors- jaguars, and only they were allowed to wear a special cape made from the skin of this beast.

Ignorant people often confuse jaguars with leopards. They are indeed very similar in appearance, but the leopard is much smaller.

The body length of an adult jaguar can reach 170-170 centimeters, and this does not include the tail.

Smart and savvy jaguars often swim across wide bodies of water, clinging to some floating log.

Jaguars are great swimmers. In search of prey, they sometimes even cross many kilometers of straits.

Thanks to its ability to swim, this predator is able to overcome its prey even in water.

Palaeontologists have discovered ancient fossil bones of the jaguar , which are about 2 million years old.

As practice has shown, jaguars and lions can have viable offspring. True, it is sterile, not capable of further reproduction.

About 50% of jaguar kittens die in childhood, before reaching the age of one and a half to two years.

They always lead a solitary lifestyle, meeting briefly only for breeding.

Distribution civilization has led to a reduction in the habitat of jaguars. Currently, they are listed in the International Red Book.

Jaguars can imitate the voices of other animals, in particular monkeys, in order to lure their relatives.

Usually, a jaguar attacks any prey that can be overcome. He does not shun small things, on occasion eating small rodents and other not too large animals.