Panthera onca onca

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Jaguar
French : Jaguar

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae
Notes : 2 other subspecies known. The classification of jaguar subspecies is often debated and up to 9 subspecies have been recognized.

Identification
Body length of 170 cm, tail length of 80 cm, weight of 120 kg. Third largest felid species, very large head, muscular body. Ground coloration yellowish-beige with black rosette-like markings with one or more black spots inside.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in Central and South-America, from extreme south Arizona and Mexico to South America, south to Paraguay and north Argentina. Subspecies found in the Amazon rainforest areas as well as the Orinoco river area, south to Peru. Mostly lives in forests, including tropical moist, gallery, flooded and hill forests.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : This species is legally protected but laws aren’t always enforced. Declines still noted because of persecution, deforestation and habitat loss.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America

Observation

 

Back to “Cats, Civets, Mongooses & Relatives” page