9/26/02:   My focus has shifted to a preliminary case study of jaguars.  They are a very high-level species in the food chain.  They eat about 85 different species, including capybara, tapir, peccary, deer, sloths, armadillos, fish, turtles, tortoises, monkeys, caiman, coatimundts, birds, crocodilians and lizards.  They primarily live (in the rainforest) in dense lowlands, such as in the forests and grasslands areas, though they also roam through open countryside and have been seen at altitudes over 8000ft.  They like to wander near rivers, streams, and lakes, and are very strong swimmers. (National Wildlife Federation)
Body length: 12000-1800mm
Weight: 70-120kg
Litter size: 1-4 pups
Life span: 12-16 years, about 22 in captivity (another report says 15-20 years, about 25 in captivity [www.primenet.com/~brendel/jaguar.html])
In dense rainforest areas, jaguars are much smaller, and often have a dark, black color.  (www.wtv-zone.com/Bigcats/jaguar/jaguars6.html*)

"Jaguar" comes from a South American Indian tribe's word, "yaguara," which means "beast that kills its prey with one bound" (www.primenet.com/~brendel/jaguar.html)

Jaguars are considered a near threatened species.  They now inhabit about half of their historic range.  The major reasons for their problems are human derived.  Primarily, humans compete with jaguars for food.  Many of the jaguars' prey are being killed by humans.  Other important factors are loggers and farmers, who destroy the dense forests and grasslands that are the main habitat for the jaguars.  (National Wildlife Federation)

10/21/02
Back to looking into jaguars.  Not much useful information found, will continue to look.
 
 

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