Animals

Of all the big cats, jaguars are the least studied. While some tidbits of information do come from examining jaguars in the wild, most of what is known about the creatures has been learned by studying captive animals. Wild jaguars are difficult to study because observing them is a rare occurrence.
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a New World mammal belonging to the Felidae family and is one of the four “big cats” in the Panthera genus, along with the tiger, lion and leopard of the Old World.
Jaguars and the leopards seem at first glance to be nearly identical, but do in fact show marked differences. Both species have distinctive builds and differing coat patterns. In comparison with the leopard, the jaguar is larger and much stockier.
Primary jaguar habitats include tropical rain forests and swampy grasslands of Central and South America. In damp forest habitats, jaguars roam close to rivers, streams and lakes. They are fond of water and are notable as felines who enjoy swimming.