Jaguars are considered to be larger than cougars, and those in South America tend to be heavier than those in Central or North America. Within South America, there are differences for jaguars which are north and south of the Amazon River.
The Pantanal is the world’s biggest wetland. This pristine environment in South America supports an amazingly rich variety of wildlife and plants – and has huge social and economic importance too.
Its enormous water reserves are vital for the eight million or so people in the region, who depend on the fresh water, the fish and other vital ‘environmental services.
The Jaguar is the largest native cat species of the New World and the third largest in the world. This spotted cat closely resembles the leopard, but is usually larger and sturdier. It ranges across a variety of forested and open terrains, but its preferred habitat is tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest, swamps and wooded regions. The jaguar enjoys swimming and is largely a solitary, opportunistic, stalk-and-ambush predator at the top of the food chain. As a keystone species it plays an important role in stabilizing ecosystems and regulating prey populations.
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