The jaguar is the big cat native to the Americas that is known for its spotted coat.
Jaguars once ranged from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to Argentina. Today, their strongest remaining populations are in the Amazon Basin and other parts of Central and South America. They are the largest cats in the Americas and the only living member of the genus Panthera native to the region.
A jaguar’s coat is typically golden or yellowish with dark rosettes. Many rosettes contain one or more spots in the center, a pattern that helps distinguish jaguars from leopards. Jaguars can also be melanistic, appearing almost entirely black; their rosette markings are still visible in suitable light.
Jaguars are powerful ambush predators and are unusually comfortable in water. Their exceptionally strong jaws allow them to pierce the skulls or shells of some prey, including turtles and caimans. A frequent mix-up is confusing them with leopards: leopards are native to Africa and Asia, while jaguars are native to the Americas.