Page 53 - Animals of the Wild April 2017(1)_Neat

Mating occurs all year long. The pregnancy lasts around 100 days before the female give birth to 1-4
cubs. The cubs are born with closed eyelids. The eyes open after two weeks. At the age of six
months, the mother will teach them to hunt and they will reach independence when they are two
years. Sexual maturity will be reached between 2-3 years in females and 3-4 years for the males.
Jaguars can live up to 12 years in the wild.

Jaguars have powerful jaws with which they can crunch bones. They prey on deer, peccary, snakes,
monkeys, birds, frogs, fish, tapirs, turtles, alligators and small rodents.

Jaguars use their speed and stealth to take down their prey. They put their tail in the water to attract
fish. They will drag the prey into the trees even if it is a far away. They do not share their food.
Jaguars catch their prey by the head and press down to make the kill, while other felines go for the
neck.

Melanism in jaguars occurs due to a genetic mutation that causes the skin and fur to contain larger
amounts of dark pigment. These jaguars can be found in rainforests where they can blend into the
shadows.

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