Jaguar

Jaguars don’t capture their prey by speed but rather by surprise. Tapirs, armadillos, anteaters, capybara, caimans and turtles are among their prey, as well as several species of monkeys and deer. Their jaws can close with a pressure of 500 kg/cm2.

These mainly nocturnal creatures rely on a specialized layer of cells at the back of their eyes to move about at night, and they're powerful enough to pursue prey both by swimming and by climbing trees. The name "jaguar" is derived from the term "jaguara", a word of Tupi-Guarani origin, which means "carnivore that catches prey in a single bound".

Couples only form during the breeding season; otherwise, individuals mark their territory with urine to indicate their presence and to keep intruders away. Females are very protective of their offspring. Therefore, won't tolerate the presence of the male as soon as the young are born. The cubs leave their mother when they are about 2 years old.

These spotted felines have lost 50% of their historical distribution range. Deforestation for agricultural development is the main cause of their decline. In fact, their natural habitat has decreased considerably over the last 50 years. The species is hailed as a deity in some South American cultures.