The jaguar is the largest feline in the Americas and lives in tropical rainforests. Its scientific name is Panthera onca, and it is the only living Panthera species native to the Americas.
Jaguars are strongly associated with the Amazon Basin, but their range historically extended from the southwestern United States to Argentina. They prefer habitats with dense vegetation and reliable water, including flooded forests, wetlands, and mangroves.
Unlike most cats, jaguars are powerful swimmers and often hunt near rivers and streams. Their exceptionally strong jaws allow them to pierce the skulls or shells of prey, including caimans, turtles, capybaras, and peccaries.
Jaguars are sometimes confused with leopards because both have spotted coats. Jaguar rosettes, however, commonly contain central spots, while leopard rosettes generally do not. The jaguar is also stockier and more heavily built. Habitat loss and conflict with people remain major threats to wild populations, although the species still occupies a broad range across Central and South America.