Animals of the Amazon Rainforest
Jaguar
Interesting Facts
1. The name 'Jaguar' means 'predator of all' and "he who kills with one leap".
2. Jaguars are the largest cats living in the wild in North and South America—and 3rd largest cat, after lions and tigers.
3. Jaguars are primarily nocturnal animals. One key element is their eyeshine, caused by a mirror-like structure called the tapetum lucidum. The tapetum lucidum in the back of their eye reflects light into the retina, nearly doubling their ability to see in low-light situations.
-- Even though jaguars have spread across different continents, the isolation has no lead to any noticeable defining characteristics. Melanistic jaguars occur in both North and South America, suggesting that isolation of the cats was not a cause of the mutation or selection for the trait.
Evolutionary Tree
Phylogenetic Tree of Felines
Natural Selection:
-- Large cats were favored in the wild because of their superior ability to catch prey and adaptability to changing resources and habitats.
-- Conversely, smaller cats that would eventually be regarded as domesticated cats were also successful because of their appeal to humans. With human care, domesticated cats were able to grow in numbers until they reached a large and stable population.
Adaptations:
-- When Felidae split into Leopardis and Panthera, the cats in Panthera are the only large cats that are able to roar. This adaption was useful for communication and for intimidating potential predators.
--When Lynx split into Puma and Felis, Felis cats adapted to their environments by becoming smaller. Being large was not advantageous for their environments, and having less mass was favored. Pumas, including cougars and cheetahs, remained larger because it was advantageous to do so to survive in their environments. More mass was required to be dominant.
-- Large cats were favored in the wild because of their superior ability to catch prey and adaptability to changing resources and habitats.
-- Conversely, smaller cats that would eventually be regarded as domesticated cats were also successful because of their appeal to humans. With human care, domesticated cats were able to grow in numbers until they reached a large and stable population.
Adaptations:
-- When Felidae split into Leopardis and Panthera, the cats in Panthera are the only large cats that are able to roar. This adaption was useful for communication and for intimidating potential predators.
--When Lynx split into Puma and Felis, Felis cats adapted to their environments by becoming smaller. Being large was not advantageous for their environments, and having less mass was favored. Pumas, including cougars and cheetahs, remained larger because it was advantageous to do so to survive in their environments. More mass was required to be dominant.
Niches
Ecological Niche of the Jaguar
-- The term niche is used to describe the role an organism or population plays within its community or ecosystem. It encompasses all relationships that the organism (or population) has with its environment and with other organisms and populations in its environment.
-- Jaguars are considered an apex species, meaning that they are not preyed upon in the wild. They are also considered a keystone species, meaning that they are a vital part of keeping their habitat healthy. Jaguars keep populations under control by preying on animals that might otherwise overpopulate.
-- The jaguar is a generalist. A generalist species can thrive in a variety of different environments and utilize a combination of many different and varying resources. The jaguar is very adaptive to its environment and its changing conditions.
-- Jaguars are considered an apex species, meaning that they are not preyed upon in the wild. They are also considered a keystone species, meaning that they are a vital part of keeping their habitat healthy. Jaguars keep populations under control by preying on animals that might otherwise overpopulate.
-- The jaguar is a generalist. A generalist species can thrive in a variety of different environments and utilize a combination of many different and varying resources. The jaguar is very adaptive to its environment and its changing conditions.
Endangered Species
The Jaguar: An Endangered Species
Why endangered?
-- Human population growth and agricultural expansion, as well as hunting and poaching by livestock ranchers.
What is being done?
-- Defenders of Wildlife has worked extensively to make sure the remaining jaguar populations are protected. In March 2009, we achieved a major victory when a court case Defenders had brought against the federal government was ruled on in our favor. The federal court for the District of Arizona ruled that endangered jaguars deserve the full protection of the Endangered Species Act. This will require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take a second look at its decision not to develop a recovery plan or designate critical habitat for the jaguar.
-- Human population growth and agricultural expansion, as well as hunting and poaching by livestock ranchers.
What is being done?
-- Defenders of Wildlife has worked extensively to make sure the remaining jaguar populations are protected. In March 2009, we achieved a major victory when a court case Defenders had brought against the federal government was ruled on in our favor. The federal court for the District of Arizona ruled that endangered jaguars deserve the full protection of the Endangered Species Act. This will require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take a second look at its decision not to develop a recovery plan or designate critical habitat for the jaguar.