Buzz
Over the years, several jaguars have gained popularity on YouTube. In 2013, a viral National Geographic video showcased one of these majestic cats hunting a crocodile. Similarly, in 2014, a stunning clip of a jaguar swimming gracefully captivated 4.5 million viewers. These incredible creatures deserve more than fleeting attention. Dive into these 10 fascinating facts about jaguars to truly appreciate their next viral moment.
1. ONLY ONE OR TWO WILD JAGUARS CURRENTLY INHABIT THE UNITED STATES (AS FAR AS WE KNOW).
Wikimedia Commons
These majestic big cats once roamed a vast territory, spanning from Argentina to the southwestern United States. Historically, jaguars were dominant predators in regions like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and southern California. However, due to overhunting, habitat destruction, and conflicts with livestock owners, their populations were eradicated in at least three of these states. In 2011, a male jaguar was photographed in the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson, Arizona. Known as El Jefe (meaning “the boss” in Spanish), this jaguar gained fame as it was believed to be the only wild jaguar in the U.S. at the time. Then, in 2016, a trail camera in Fort Huachuca, Arizona captured images of what appeared to be another male. Jim deVos, from the state’s Game and Fish department, stated that they were investigating whether this was a new jaguar or one previously documented. While the official verdict is pending, you can compare these photos to form your own opinion.
2. JAGUARS POSSESS REMARKABLY POWERFUL BITES.
Biologist Adam Hardstone-Rose notes that “pound for pound, jaguars deliver a more forceful bite” than lions or tigers. In a 2012 study co-authored by Hardstone-Rose, the bite forces of nine cat species were analyzed. While tigers outperformed jaguars in absolute bite strength, jaguars emerged as the most powerful relative to their size. “Their jaw muscles are slightly stronger for their weight, and their shorter jaws provide greater leverage for biting,” Hardstone-Rose explains.
3. THIS MAKES THEM HIGHLY EFFICIENT PREDATORS.
Jaguars are opportunistic hunters, preying on a wide variety of animals, including fish, birds, deer, armadillos, peccaries, porcupines, tapirs, capybaras, anacondas, caimans, and
4. JAGUARS ARE CAPABLE OF HUNTING BEARS.
As Sir David Attenborough once described, the jaguar is a “predator of predators,” known for targeting formidable prey. Take El Jefe, for instance, who has been documented consuming at least one bear. Wildlife biologist Chris Bugbee, accompanied by his jaguar-tracking dog Mayke, discovered the remains of a young black bear in the jaguar’s territory. The bear’s skull showed signs of being crushed, with telltale tooth marks nearby. Jaguar scat found at the site contained traces of black bear hair. Biologist Alertis Neils, Bugbee’s wife, noted that this is likely the first documented case of a jaguar preying on a black bear. Given the limited overlap in their habitats—jaguars are rare in the U.S., and black bears are endangered in Mexico [PDF]—this event is particularly noteworthy. Neils remarked, “It was a clash of north and south, and south emerged victorious.”
5. THEY EXCEL IN THE WATER.
While all cats can swim, most avoid water whenever possible. Jaguars, however, are an exception, frequently entering rivers and streams, earning them the title of the most aquatic big cats. They are known to hunt fish and caimans underwater and often soak in water to cool down on hot days. Their swimming prowess allows them to cross rivers over a mile wide. Still skeptical? Watch this.
6. “BLACK PANTHERS” ARE REALLY LEOPARDS OR JAGUARS.
Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0
Many believe the black panther is a separate feline species, but it’s actually a term used for melanistic leopards or jaguars. Melanism causes an excess of dark pigment, resulting in a sleek, all-black appearance. These animals are so dark that their spots are often invisible. In contrast, albino jaguars, though far rarer, have been spotted in Paraguay.
7. ANCIENT JAGUARS WERE LARGER THAN THEIR MODERN COUNTERPARTS.
Jaguars, scientifically known as Panthera onca, originated in Eurasia before migrating to the Americas via the Bering land bridge around 1.5 million years ago. Prehistoric jaguars were significantly larger, with fossils discovered in regions like Florida, Maryland, and Nebraska. Studies suggest these ancient jaguars were 15 to 20 percent bigger than today’s jaguars.
The reduction in size may have been key to the jaguar’s survival during the ice age. Facing competition from larger predators like the Smilodon fatalis and the American lion, jaguars likely shifted to hunting smaller prey such as peccaries. This adaptation may have driven their size reduction over time. While many mega-mammals vanished, the jaguar’s smaller prey persisted, proving that in nature, smaller can sometimes be more advantageous.
8. TWO JAGUARS FEATURE PROMINENTLY ON GUYANA’S COAT OF ARMS.
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Guyana’s coat of arms, adopted on February 25, 1966, proudly showcases two jaguars, reflecting the animal’s status as the nation’s national animal. The left jaguar holds a pick axe, symbolizing the mining industry, while the right one grasps sugar cane and a rice stalk, representing the agricultural heritage and the farmers who sustain it.
9. THE JAGUAR STANDS ALONE AS NORTH AMERICA’S ONLY ROARING NATIVE CAT.
As a member of the Panthera genus, which includes lions, tigers, and leopards, the jaguar shares the ability to roar—a trait absent in other North American felines like mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx. While these smaller cats produce various sounds, from hisses to shrieks, they lack the deep roar of the jaguar. Interestingly, Panthera cats, including jaguars, cannot purr, a feature common in smaller felines like domestic cats. Nature’s tradeoffs are fascinating.
10. A JAGUAR CUB WAS NAMED IN HONOR OF THE NFL'S JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS OWNER.
While wild jaguars haven’t roamed Florida since ancient times, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens boasts a renowned jaguar exhibit and was the first U.S. zoo to consistently breed these vulnerable cats. On July 18, 2013, the zoo welcomed its 50th jaguar cub, coincidentally sharing a birthday with Shahid Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars. A public naming contest resulted in the cub being named Khan. In July 2016, Jaguars players Arrelious Benn and Jarrod Wilson visited the zoo to celebrate the cub’s third birthday.
