EDGE BOOKS JAGUARS BIG CATS BY TAMMY GAGNE Consultant Christina Simmons San Diego Zoo Global San Diego California CAPSTONE PRESS a capstone imprint
CAT BIG ONE 1 Chapter The rain forest is alive with sounds Frogs croak monkeys chatter and parrots screech But none of them hears the jaguar It sits alone in a tree waiting for its prey A white-tailed deer walks quietly below As soon as the deer takes one more step the jaguar pounces The jaguar is the biggest wildcat west of Africa It is the third largest cat in the world Only lions and tigers are bigger than jaguars prey an animal hunted by another animal for food
An adult jaguar’s body can measure up to 6 feet 1 8 meters long Its tail may add another 30 inches 76 centimeters to its length Both males and females have stocky bodies and large heads Male jaguars weigh between 120 and 300 pounds 54 and 136 kilograms Females usually weigh about 70 pounds 32 kg Jaguars aren’t as fast or as tall as the largest cats from Africa and Asia Jaguars stand between 27 and 30 inches 69 and 76 cm tall from their shoulders to the ground These cats rely on their stealth and strength for their survival Size Comparison Chart The average height of an American male is 5 feet 10 inches 178 centimeters stealth the ability to move without being detected
