The third largest feline in the world, the jaguar is the only member of the Panthera genus native to the Americas. They can be found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and throughout Central America. Their main habitats include tropical rainforests, swamps, and wooded areas.

History:

• Jaguars are very important to many South American cultures.
• In Aztec culture, jaguars are considered the rulers and warriors of the wild.
• The Aztecs honored their best warriors by naming them jaguar knights.
• The Moche culture of Peru used the image of the jaguar to portray power.
• They often included depictions of them in their art.

Scientific name: Panthera onca

Characteristics: Although jaguars resemble leopards greatly, they actually resemble tigers more in terms of behavior.