jaguar

Largest species of cat in the Americas, formerly ranging from the southwestern USA to southern South America, but now extinct in most of North America. It can grow up to 2.5 m/8 ft long including the tail. Male jaguars weigh up to 150 kg/330 lb; females up to 90 kg/198 lb. The background colour of the fur varies from creamy white to brown or black, and is covered with black spots. The jaguar is usually solitary and lives approximately 11 years in the wild. (Species Panthera onca, family Felidae.)

The gestation period is 100 days and between one and four cubs are born. Jaguars are good swimmers and favour territory that is near water or flooded seasonally.

In 1999 there were 10,000–15,000 jaguars in the wild.