Jaguar Facts
The jaguar is a large spotted cat, a mammal and the only living Panthera species native to the Americas, with a bite strong enough to crack turtle shells.
- Class
- Mammal
- Scientific name
- Panthera onca
- Conservation status
- Near threatened (IUCN)
About the jaguar
Its pale yellow to tan coat has spots that turn into rosettes along the sides, and some jaguars are dark all over. At up to 1.85 m long and 158 kg, it is the biggest cat in its hemisphere and ranks third in size worldwide. Instead of a throat bite, it often kills mammals by biting straight through the skull between the ears.
Ancestors likely crossed from Eurasia over the old Bering land bridge, and the oldest North American fossils date to 0.85 to 0.82 million years ago. Today jaguars range from the Southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America and the Amazon to Paraguay and northern Argentina. They favor moist tropical forests and wetlands, swim well and hunt alone by stalking and ambushing. As a keystone species, they help keep prey numbers in balance.
Did you know?
- The IUCN Red List has rated jaguars Near Threatened since 2002.
- Clashes with ranchers in South and Central America are one threat jaguars face.
- Scientists call the jaguar Panthera onca, placing it among the big cats.
Questions about the jaguar
Where do jaguars live?
From the Southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America and the Amazon south to Paraguay and northern Argentina.
Is the jaguar the biggest cat in the Americas?
Yes. No cat in the Americas is bigger, and only two cats worldwide outsize it.
Sources
- Wikidata Q35694, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Jaguar, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.