The Threatened Americas
The Jaguar(Panthera Onca)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDKT5DDsZkQ&feature=youtu.be
Description and Habitat
- Habitat: Needs water supply, dense cover, and sufficient prey in order to support a healthy population of Jaguars(ADW)
- Historic home range: from southwestern US through the Amazon basin to the Rio Negro in Argentina (IUCN)
- Largest cat in the Americas
- Physical description: shoulder width 75 cm, Body length 150-180 cm, and can weigh between 68-136 kilograms. The Jaguar was not built for speed, but for power.
- The Jaguar's pelt can range from pale yellow, reddish brown, and black( also known as the panther).(ADW)
Food Chain
- The Jaguar is a predator and a carnivore
- Diet: prefers large animals like deer. Other prey include turtles, snake, fish, large birds, and many other animals.
- Strategy: Jaguars usually kill their prey with one pounce with a swift bite of the neck, suffocating, or piercing their target's skull with their canines. Then they drag their target into a secluded spot and eat them there.(ADW)
Adaptation
- Hunting: Since the Jaguar usually kills its prey by a single blow to the skull, its large head and powerful jaws help it do that
- Protection: Its patterned pelt helps in blend in with its surroundings (ADW)
Reasons for Endangerment
- Hunted by humans for their pelts.
- Deforestation.
- The hunting of farm animals have caused many farmers to consider them as pests. Many Jaguars die by the hands of the farmer and gun. (IUCN)
Conservation Status
- Jaguars are fully protected and hunting them has been made illegal in many countries.
- Although hunting has been made illegal, many products made from Jaguar are still in demand
- Near Threatened (IUCN)
Photo Credits
Carranza, Federico. "Jaguar(Panthera onca)." Flickr. Flickr, 20 Oct 2012. Web. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/federicocarranza/8121200060/>.
Kersting, Ulrich. "At the Zoo." Flickr. Flickr, 9 Sep 2012. Web. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerstingu/7957673398/>.
Oldenettel, Jerry. "BZ10_C50D_0439a." Flickr. Flickr, 22 Feb 2010. Web. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/4411671335/>.
Tambako the Jaguar, . "The pretty Napo relaxed." Flickr. Flickr, 7 Apr 2012. Web. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/tambako/7278545856/>.
Tambako the Jaguar, . "Lying against mom...." Flickr. Flickr, 25 Mar 2011. Web. Web. 21 Apr. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/tambako/5765049258/>.