Jaguar

J.L.

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Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genius and Species

Works Cited | Fun Facts

Kingdom: Animalia

•  multicellular

•  heterotrophs

• digest food in a internal cavity

• no cell wall

• organized tissues

• reproduce sexually

• complex movement

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Phylum: Chordata

• bilateral symmetry

• segmented body

• three germ layer

• hollow nerve cord with brain

• have a tail beyond the anus

• pharyhgeal pouches

• ventral heart

• digestive system

•  bony exoskeleton

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Class: Mammalia

• three middle ear bones

• hair

• mammary glands

• have highly differentiated teeth

• a lower jaw

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Order: Carnivora

• eat meat

• have a enlarged fourth upper premolar and first lower molar

• medium sized animal

• acute senses

• excellent vision and hearing

• large brains

• excellent runners

• simple stomach

• blubber

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Family: Felidae

• specialized hunters

• retractable claws

• they are digitigrade

• large eyes

• well developed senses

• an acute sense of touch

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Genius and Species: Panthera, Panthera onca

• Head and body are massive

• coat is a rich yellow to rusted-red, spotted with larger black rosettes

• largest cats in the Americas

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   Jaguar's are the largest cats known in the Americas.  The jaguar is a very vicious and powerful vertebrate from the phylum Chordata.  The jaguar has all the characteristics it needs to survive in its habitat.

   The jaguar has many physical characteristics that make it a vicious predator at the top of the food chain.  For example, one characteristic is the jaguar's stocky and muscular body.  This characteristic shows that the jaguar is a very dangerous and strong animal.  Another example of a jaguar's characteristics is its short and stubby legs.  This characteristic shows that the jaguar is a very fast runner and can hunt its prey easily.  A final example of a jaguar's characteristic, is its brownish/yellow base fur color which is distinctively marked with dark rosette markings.  This characteristic shows that the jaguar is very camouflaged in its environment.  The characteristics that a jaguar contains help it live without trouble in its environment.

   The jaguar's habitat requires many elements for survival.  For example, a jaguar mainly lives in thick forests.  This shows that the jaguar lives in an area with a lot of space to hunt.  Another example of a Jaguar's habitat is that it mainly lives in areas below 8000 feet.  This shows that the jaguar has to live were there are a lot of animals to live on.  A last example, is a jaguar hunts in areas with annual rainfall.  This shows that the jaguar hunts in areas were many animals would live.  The habitat of a jaguar helps it live with ease.

    The jaguar has specific characteristics to help it survive in its habitat.  If people do not stop cutting down the rainforests, of South America, the jaguar will be soon extinct. 

Work Cited

 McAnulty, Brigida, and Kristy Springstubbe. Panthera Pardus. May 2000. Apr. 09.  University of Michigan.   4/16/03<http://http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/>.

Tony.  Tony's home page.  10/12/2002.  Southwick Zoo.  4/16/03  http://www.northrup.org/Photos/jaguar/

Muzzy, Catherine. Personal interview. 16 Apr. 2003.

Sounddog.com.  2002. 4/16/03. http://www.sounddogs.com/searchresults.asp

Fun Facts

1.  Life Span: 12 to 15 years in the wild, 20 in the zoo.

2. Weight: Male- average 121 pounds.  Females- average 79 pounds.

3. Gestation: 3 to 3.5 months

4. Number of young at birth: 1 to 4, average is 2

Jaguars are fierce roaming the vast Amazon Runs like a racecar

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