: a large cat (Panthera onca) chiefly of Central and South America that is larger and stockier than the leopard and is brownish yellow or buff with black spots
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The jaguar is the largest New World cat. It was once found in wooded regions from the U.S.-Mexican border south to Patagonia, Currently, the jaguar survives, in reduced numbers, only in remote areas of Central and South America; the largest known population is in the Amazon rain forest. The male is 5.5-9.0 ft. (1.7-2.7 m) long, including the tail, which measures 23-35-in. (60-90-cm) long, and weighs 220-350 lbs. (100-160 kg). The coat is typically orange-tan with black spots arranged in rosettes with a black spot in the center. A solitary predator, the jaguar usually hunts rodents, deer, birds, and fish; it will also take cattle, horses, and dogs.
Examples of jaguar in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebThe children survived the plane crash that killed their mother, the pilot and the only other adult on board, and then got through the dense jungle, alive with jaguars, snakes and mosquitoes, and had to contend with stormy weather and little in the way of food or sustenance.—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 July 2024 Intrepid travelers arrive here for incredible natural wonders like Kaieteur Falls–among the world’s largest single-drop waterfalls by volume–and astounding wildlife that includes jaguars, giant river otters, and more than 800 species of birds.—Terry Ward, TIME, 25 July 2024 The area is also a migratory route for jaguars and ocelots traveling to and from breeding grounds in Mexico.—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 22 May 2024 Top predators such as the jaguar are not easy to bring back socially, generally.—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for jaguar
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jaguar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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