Panthera Onca Research Paper
Life History of Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758)
Kala Rene John
BIO 1301 Biology of Animals Laboratory Fall 2013
Professor Jerry L. Farris
Arkansas State University
General Appearance Panthera onca is the largest feline in the New World (Seymour 1989). The felid is closely related to the leopard (Panthera pardus) in most senses but differs in many areas such as size. P. onca has a larger average body size, approximately 1.12 m to 1.85 m from head to tail (Seymour 1989). Specifically, females average from 1.57 m to 2.19 m in length while males average 1.72 m to 2.41 m in length (Seymour 1989). Shoulder height is overall 0.68 m to 0.75 m on average (Seymour 1989). This makes females …show more content…
onca also has a varying diet, perhaps due to the fact that the habitats differ. Most jaguars are solely carnivorous while some will eat grass; avocados have been recorded as an apparent favorite of the species (Seymour 1989). As for the carnivore side of the species, the chief prey is any terrestrial mammal over 1 kg in body mass (Seymour 1989). However, reptiles and birds are also favored (Seymour 1989). Varied examples include: capybaras (Hydrochoerus), pacas (Agouti paca), armadillos (Dasypus), caimans (Caiman), turtles (Podocnemis), opossums (Didelphis), monkeys (Alouatta seniculus, Aotus trivigatus), otters (Lutra), ocelots (Felis pardalis), anteaters (Myrmecophaga, Tamandua), tortoises (Geochelone), storks (Jabiru mycteria), catfish (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum), sloths (Bradypus, Choloepus), and frogs (Ranidae) (Seymour 1989). P. onca will take down brocket deer and marsh deer, whereas they rarely take deer in general, a contrast to the puma (Seymour 1989). Because the habitats vary, P. onca are opportunistic feeders, especially in rain forests where they catch prey that is easily available and ready (Seymour 1989). This makes their diets dependent on prey density within their respective habitat. Also, it has been observed that individual P. onca can have prey preferences, especially in livestocks of cattle, horses, pigs, or dogs (Seymour
Kala Rene John
BIO 1301 Biology of Animals Laboratory Fall 2013
Professor Jerry L. Farris
Arkansas State University
General Appearance Panthera onca is the largest feline in the New World (Seymour 1989). The felid is closely related to the leopard (Panthera pardus) in most senses but differs in many areas such as size. P. onca has a larger average body size, approximately 1.12 m to 1.85 m from head to tail (Seymour 1989). Specifically, females average from 1.57 m to 2.19 m in length while males average 1.72 m to 2.41 m in length (Seymour 1989). Shoulder height is overall 0.68 m to 0.75 m on average (Seymour 1989). This makes females …show more content…
onca also has a varying diet, perhaps due to the fact that the habitats differ. Most jaguars are solely carnivorous while some will eat grass; avocados have been recorded as an apparent favorite of the species (Seymour 1989). As for the carnivore side of the species, the chief prey is any terrestrial mammal over 1 kg in body mass (Seymour 1989). However, reptiles and birds are also favored (Seymour 1989). Varied examples include: capybaras (Hydrochoerus), pacas (Agouti paca), armadillos (Dasypus), caimans (Caiman), turtles (Podocnemis), opossums (Didelphis), monkeys (Alouatta seniculus, Aotus trivigatus), otters (Lutra), ocelots (Felis pardalis), anteaters (Myrmecophaga, Tamandua), tortoises (Geochelone), storks (Jabiru mycteria), catfish (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum), sloths (Bradypus, Choloepus), and frogs (Ranidae) (Seymour 1989). P. onca will take down brocket deer and marsh deer, whereas they rarely take deer in general, a contrast to the puma (Seymour 1989). Because the habitats vary, P. onca are opportunistic feeders, especially in rain forests where they catch prey that is easily available and ready (Seymour 1989). This makes their diets dependent on prey density within their respective habitat. Also, it has been observed that individual P. onca can have prey preferences, especially in livestocks of cattle, horses, pigs, or dogs (Seymour