jaguar (Panthera onca)
Kingdom: Animalia Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae
Listing Status:
General Information
A large, heavy-bodied, big-headed cat. Yellowish to tawny, spotted with black rosettes or rings in horizontal rows along the back and sides; most rings are tan inside, with 1 or 2 black spots. Legs, head, and tail have smaller, solid spots, usually giving way to incomplete bands near the end of the tail.
- States/US Territories in which the jaguar is known to occur: Arizona , New Mexico
- USFWS Refuges in which the jaguar is known to occur:
LAGUNA ATASCOSA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
,
LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
,
SANTA ANA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
- Countries in which the the jaguar is known to occur: Mexico
- For more information: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Jaguar.htm
» Federal Register Documents
| Date | Citation Page | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 07/12/2006 | 71 FR 39335 39337 | Determination That Designation of Critical Habitat Is Not Prudent for the Jaguar: Notice of finding. |
| 04/21/2006 | 71 FR 20714 20716 | 5-Year Review of 25 Southwestern Species |
| 07/22/1997 | 62 FR 39147 39157 | ETWP; Final Rule To Extend Endangered Status for the Jaguar in the United Staus |
| 02/28/1996 | 61 FR 7595 7613 | ETWP; Review of Plant and Animal Taxa That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species |
| 07/13/1994 | 59 FR 35674 35679 | ETWP; Proposed Endangered Status for the Jaguar in the United States |
» Recovery
Recovery Plan Information Search| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04/21/2006 | 71 FR 20714 20716 | 5-Year Review of 25 Southwestern Species |
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the jaguar.
» Conservation Plans
No conservation plans have been created for jaguar
» Petitions
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/13/1994 | 59 FR 35674 35679 | ETWP; Proposed Endangered Status for the Jaguar in the United States | |
| 04/13/1993 | 58 FR 19216 | ETWP; Notice of 90-Day Finding on Petition to List the Jaguar as Endangered in the United States |
» Life History
Habitat Requirements
Found near water in warm, tropical savannas and forests within core of their range. In the northern portion of the range, found in thornscrub, desertscrub, and grasslands. Vegetation communities used in Arizona range from Sonoran desertscrub at lower elevations to sub-alpine mixed conifer in the mountain ranges.
Food Habits
Generalist predator, taking mammals, birds, fish, larger reptiles (turtles and caimans)
Movement / Home Range
Jaguars have relatively large home ranges, the actual size depending on topography, habitat composition, prey base, and population dynamics. Contiguous habitats, or river corridors provide for movement corridors, particularly for dispersing males.
Reproductive Strategy
Within the core of their range, breeding may take place year round. At northern end, likely a spring breeding season exists. Gestation lasts 100 days, and 1-4 (usually 2) cubs are born and stay with their mother for nearly 2 years. Females achieve maturity at age 3, males at age 4. No breeding population is currently known in southern Arizona or New Mexico. The only documented jaguars in recent years have been males.
Other
Jaguars in the United States are likely dispersing males from breeding populations in northern Mexico. Movement corridors are important to maintain; however, human developments may block access to corridors or fragment contiguous habitats needed to sustain a home range. Fences and highways may be particularly damaging for movement corridors.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
