Jaguar Facts for Kids

Jaguars are famous all over the world, for their beautiful spotted fur coat, and their mysterious nature. They're rarely seen in the wild, but are one of the most successful hunters of any species.

Jaguars are one of the four "big cats," meaning they can roar, along with lions, tigers, and leopards. They're the third biggest of the big cats, weighing around 100-200 lbs (about 50-100 kg), and their bodies can be over 6 feet long (2m).

Even though they're smaller than some of the other big cats, they have the strongest bite of any feline, strong enough to crack through skulls or turtle shells. Their strength, along with their great hunting and hiding skills, make them highly successful predators, sitting at the top of the food chain and capable of attacking prey several times their size.

Because of their size, jaguars need to live somewhere with lots of other animals, so they can have enough to eat regularly, so they have large territory and can move pretty far while hunting.

Because they have such a strong bite, they often hunt differently from other cats. While most cats will try to bite the neck of their prey, a jaguar can just bite down on the head and crack the skull!

Once that happens, a jaguar mother will have a few cubs, raising them all by herself, until the cubs are ready to find their own way.

A jaguar can live for about 12 to 15 years, and even longer, up to 23 years, in captivity, making it one of the longest-lived cats.

Farmers often consider jaguars a threat, especially if the jaguars start hunting farm animals. Poachers still hunt them as well, even though it's illegal in nearly every country.

Studying jaguars is quite difficult, since jaguars are so good at hiding. It's hard to know how many exist in the wild, especially since so many jungles in South America are so far away from civilization.

Groups like the Wildlife Conservation Society work to protect wildlife all over the world, and they're always happy to get some extra help.

Jaguars were once known only in the Americas, where they were an important cultural symbol for many civilizations, such as the Aztecs and Maya, who used them in ancient artwork. Aztecs even had a group of soldiers called the Jaguar Warriors, and several Maya rulers used the name of the cat for their own titles.

After discovering the Americas, other civilizations eventually fell in love with Jaguars too, and its name and spotted fur coat is now found all over the world, from cars, football teams, and more. People love jaguars, because of their mysterious nature, their incredible hunting skills, and sometimes just for being beautiful.