Jaguar illustration © Bruce Pearson from the Collins Guide to Rare Mammals of the World.

Jaguar Panthera onca

The Jaguar is normally spotted, but black or melanistic forms are common. Weighing up to 158kg Jaguars are good swimmers and hunt Caiman and Tapirs.

At the turn of the century Jaguars occurred as far north as southern USA, but after years of hunting they are rare or extinct in Central America.

A Jaguar - one of the WLT's most famous images

Jaguars used to be hunted for their fur, but are now protected in most parts of their range. They are classified as near threatened by IUCN. (See IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for more information on the classification of the Jaguar).

Help Protect the Jaguar and Other Wildlife in Central and South America

Jaguars can be found living in the World Land Trust projects in Belize, Brazil and Ecuador. Please help protect jaguar habitat by making a donation to the World Land Trust.

More Information on Jaguars

• Read more about jaguars living in WLT reserves in Jaguars on the increase at the Rio Bravo.
• Find more information on the Jaguar on ARKive: Images of life on Earth