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Onça (Jaguar)
Panthera onca
-20.2401, -56.3845
Field Notes
Description:
The jaguar (scientific name: Panthera onca) and black jaguar (in the case of melanic individuals only), is a species of carnivorous mammal of the Felidae family found in the Americas. It is the third largest cat in the world, after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Americas.
Resembles the leopard physically, if this differs, however, the pattern of spots on the skin and the larger size. The characteristics of their behavior and their habitat closer to those of the tiger. It is found mainly in tropical areas, but is also found in more open environments. The jaguar is strongly associated with the presence of water and is notable, along with the tiger, as a feline that enjoys swimming. It is usually solitary. It is an important predator, playing a role in stabilizing ecosystems and regulating the populations of prey species. Has an exceptionally powerful bite, even relative to other big cats. This allows it to pierce the hard shell of reptiles such as turtles and use an unusual killing method: it bites directly through the skull of prey between the ears, a fatal bite to the brain.
Habitat:
The jaguar's present from Mexico, through Central America to South America, including the entire Amazon basin in Brazil.
The photos were taken in a large area of rice fields surrounded by forests at San Francisco Ranch (www.fazendasanfrancisco.tur.br) located in the southern Pantanal of Brazil in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Pantanal is flooded an extensive area of 250 km ². The vegetation is constituted by steppe savanna.
Planting rice attracts birds and small animals. Consequently also attracts predators. The animal shelter is ensured by two ecological parks and an extensive riparian zone of the Miranda river protected by environmental laws. The Ranch has an excellent structure to serve the tourists with accommodation, food and photographic safaris. We stayed for 4 nights and got the jaguar sighting in two consecutive nights. We took photos from inside a specialized vehicle for photographic safari. The jaguar was 30 yards away on the other side of an irrigation canal. It was very exciting. Focusing was performed with the vehicle spotlight. We turn on the lights of the cameras also help to focus the photographs.
Notes:
Local: San Francisco Ranch - Miranda city - Pantanal - Brazil - http://www.fazendasanfrancisco.tur.br/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-Pantanal-Ranch/14193648949…
Camera: Nikon Df - 70-200mm - Speedlight SB910 - light/laser autofocus.
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