Original Jaguar Paintings
Jaguars are the largest of South America's big cats. They once roamed from the southern tip of that continent north to the region surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border. Today significant numbers of jaguars are found only in remote regions of South and Central America—particularly in the Amazon basin.
These beautiful and powerful beasts were prominent in ancient Native American cultures. In some traditions the Jaguar God of the Night was the formidable lord of the underworld. The name jaguar is derived from the Native American word yaguar, which means "he who kills with one leap."
Unlike many other cats, jaguars do not avoid water; in fact, they are quite good swimmers. Rivers provide prey in the form of fish, turtles, or caimans—small, alligatorlike animals. Jaguars also eat larger animals such as deer, peccaries, capybaras, and tapirs. They sometimes climb trees to prepare an ambush, killing their prey with one powerful bite.
Original Jaguar Paintings by Alan M Hunt
Alan M Hunt Original Paintings
Most jaguars are tan or orange with distinctive black spots, dubbed "rosettes" because they are shaped like roses. Some jaguars are so dark they appear to be spotless, though their markings can be seen on closer inspection, the Panther - Black Panther.
Jaguars live alone and define territories of many square miles by marking with their waste or clawing trees.
Jaguars can be found in their natural habitats of South and Central America, although jaguars have been spotted as far north as Southern California and Western Texas.
Jaguars can vary in weight from around 120 pounds to over 210 pounds. Some male jaguars have been found that weigh as many as 333 pounds The jaguar is the national animal of Guyana.Jaguars ambush their prey, rather than chasing it like lions and cheetahs are known to do. The Jaguar has been a symbol of strength and power in several South and Central American cultures, particularly in Northern Peru where the Moche culture painted images of jaguars on many of their ceramic tools and artifacts. Jaguars also appear prominently in Mayan and Aztec culture.
Jaguars have an eye-shine that helps them hunt at night. This eye-shine is caused by a mirror-like organ, and it reflects light onto the retina. Like other felines, this is why jaguars' eyes will seem to glow when light hits them at night.
Jaguars are very much at home in the water. Seldom will they be found very far from a river or lake.
A jaguar can fish by waving its tail over the water to attract hungry fish.
Females have litters of one to four cubs, which are blind and helpless at birth. The mother stays with them and defends them fiercely from any animal that may approach—even their own father. Young jaguars learn to hunt by living with their mothers for two years or more.
Jaguars are still hunted for their attractive fur. Ranchers also kill them because the cats sometimes prey upon their livestock.