Jaguar Facts

Scientific name: Panthera onca

Jaguars have long occupied an important place in human cultures. Indigenous communities across the hemisphere have revered the cat as a symbol of spiritual power.  Shorter and more compact than other cats, this creature is a skilled predator that will hunt from trees and in the water as well as on land.

Learn more facts about jaguars and big cats.

Jaguar Facts & Tidbits

• Though they are the largest cat in the Americas, they are one of the smaller big cats, weighing between 80 and 250 lbs.
• They range from five to eight feet in length.
• Jaguars are the only terrestrial animal known to eat sea turtles, which has been documented on green turtle nesting beaches.
• Shamans are believed to be able to become jaguars in some indigenous communities.
• Jaguars are the only big cat living in the Western Hemisphere.

Distribution

Historically, these cats lived from southwestern U.S. through all of Central America and most of South America, reaching as far as southern Argentina.

They currently occupy only about 60 percent of their historic range and are considered extinct in El Salvador and Uruguay. Jaguars still live in Mexico though in a much smaller area and are rarely longer found in the U.S.

Status

IUCN Status: Near Threatened

Population Trend: Decreasing

In addition to the threats currently facing these cats, their numbers were reduced from intense hunting during the 1960’s and 1970’s with up to 18,000 killed per year. This threat was halted when in 1973 when the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) made the trade in their pelts illegal.

Learn about other threats here.

SEE Jaguars on these Adventure Tours:

• Costa Rica Ultimate Wildlife Adventure: Observe whales and macaws and learn about jaguar research (Jan - April & July - Nov / $1,995)

What Is SEEtheWILD?

We're a non-profit wildlife conservation travel organization that supports local efforts to protect endangered animals. We work with quality tour operators who have passed our criteria to ensure low environmental impact. We're part of The Ocean Foundation.