Jaguars are the largest of South America's big cats and the third largest cats in the world. At one time jaguars roamed all the way to the U.S.-Mexico border, but jaguars are now only occasionally sighted in Texas and Arizona. Most jaguars are found in the Amazon River basin.
Jaguars are secretive and are not known to kill humans. These beautiful and powerful beasts were important in ancient Native American cultures and were used as royal symbols. People believed they could protect them against evil. The name jaguar comes from the Native American word yaguar, which means "he who kills with one leap."Unlike most cats, jaguars like water and are quite good swimmers. Jaguars eat fish, turtles, and caimans—small, alligator-like animals—but also chow down on larger animals such as deer, cows, and tapirs. They sometimes climb trees to jump on unsuspecting prey, killing them with one powerful bite through the neck or head.Their fur is usually tan or orange with black spots, called "rosettes" because they are shaped like roses. Some jaguars are so dark they don't seem to have spots, but in bright sunshine or on a closer look one can see their markings.
0 comments:
Post a Comment