Which big cat has the binomial name Panthera onca?

The big cat with the binomial name Panthera onca is the jaguar.

Carl Linnaeus described the species in 1758, originally placing it in the genus Felis. Modern classification places it in Panthera, the genus that also includes lions, tigers, leopards, and snow leopards. The species name onca is associated with an Indigenous South American word used for a powerful, dangerous animal.

Jaguars are native to the Americas and are the largest cats in that region. Their rosette patterns often contain central spots, helping distinguish them from leopards, whose rosettes are usually less heavily marked. Jaguars are also unusually strong swimmers and can kill prey with a powerful bite capable of piercing turtle shells.

A common mix-up is confusing the jaguar with the leopard because both have spotted coats. The jaguar is generally stockier, has a broader head, and is primarily an American species; the leopard is native to Africa and Asia.