Jaguars are part of exclusive group known as the “big cats,” which include the lion, tiger, and panther. The scientific name for this species is Panthera Onca. Panthera is a Greek term originating from the Latin word for panther while Onca is derived from the Latin word for lynx. Most Central and South American countries refer to the Jaguar as “el tigre” or the tiger. This is the only big cat found in the New World (western hemisphere) and the only one in the entire genus. The entire taxonomy classification is as follows: Kingdom- Animalia, Phylum- Chordata, Class- Mammalia, Order- Carnivora, Family- Felidae, Genus- Panthera, Species- Panthera Onca.
The range for the jaguar is fairly extensive. Its historical range started in the southern United States and stretched all the way down through Central America to cover most of South America. Fossils have been found as far north as Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee with jaguars they may have weighed in at around 420 pounds (Museum). Now, due to various reason such as habitat fragmentation, hunting, and other human interference, the range starts in the southwestern area of the United States. It was thought that the jaguar was extirpated from the United States but sightings have been reported in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The northern extent of the range has receded southward about 1000 kilometers and the southern extent about 2000 kilometers northward. The range still flows through Central America but it has become extinct in El Salvador and Uruaguy (IUCN). The southern tip of the range occupies mid to southern South America, covering parts of Argentina and Brazil. The numbers typically increase from north to south. Jaguars are usually found in dense rain forest and that is a l...
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...ance of livestock, population numbers actually were doing well. Farmers in Central and South America starting having trouble with jaguars attacking their livestock so they either tried to kill the jaguars themselves or they have been known to hire full time hunters. In the sixties, the fur-trade boomed, making jaguar skin as a high commodity (Save). This also helped the declining numbers. Another factor is the lack of conservation efforts like in El Salvador and Uruguay, which has seen the animal go extinct.
Works Cited
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/felis_onca.html
(Museum)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15953
(IUCN)
http://savethejaguar.com/jag-index/jag-allabout/jag-aboutthreats
(Save)
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/jaguar.php
(Defenders)
http://savethejaguar.com/jag-index/jag-allabout/jag-aboutecology
(Save 2)
The Pygmy Three-Toed-Sloth, also known as Bradypus pygmaeus scientifically, has been classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. “They are restricted to one area from Isla Escudo de Veraguas in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama” (“Pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus)” (a)). The island is very small measuring to about 5 square kilometers in area. These sloths are usually found in red mangroves at sea level. As of now the Pygmy three-toed-sloth are critically endangered and weak law enforcement, deforestation, and poachers are to blame.
Mammals of Florida. Miami, Florida: Windward Publishing. 3. Land, Darrell, and Sharon K. Taylor. 1998.
Since jaguars are able to adapt quickly and keep up the pace of living in an environment with such biodiversity, the preservation of these rainforest habitats will provide the organic atmosphere that jaguars need. Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction, explains one theory as to why species, like jaguars, reside and thrive in jungles “One theory holds that more species live in the tropics because the evolutionary clock there ticks faster”, (Kolbert 153). Here Kolbert elaborates on the blurry details of the rate of evolution in the tropics versus other biomes on the planet. Jaguar’s large claws for catching prey, thick skull for protection, and narrow rib cages for speed are all evidence of a rapidly ticking ‘evolutionary clock’;
The Taino population of Hispaniola, which was once estimated to be as large as 8 million, went virtually extinct. Central Mexico’s population went from 15 million in 1519 to 1.5 million a century later.... ... middle of paper ... ... Nunn, Nathan, and Nancy Qian. "
“Bam bam bam” you hear gun-shots in the forest a person comes out with and endangered Jaguar its face covered in blood you want to help save its species, but you don't know how, but then you ask yourself “Do I want to save this species?” the Florida Panther should be helped and if not goodbye Florida Panther. Should we help wild cats? So many species of wild cats are endangered like the cheetah and the Back Jaguar, Tigers snow leopards, and lions are all on the endangered list. We need to help them because if there numbers drop to zero there won't be anymore wild cats. Can you imagine a world without cheetahs? Like in Asia the wild cats Asiatic cheetahs, Amur leopards, Sunda clouded leopards, clouded leopards, Asiatic lions, snow leopards and tigers are all endangered.
Thousands of years ago, hunting may have been the cause of the extinction of the North American large land mammals. “Moving up into the 1940’s and 50’s some of today’s most prominent game animals were almost non-existent.”(Kerry G) Over-hunting will directly cause the decline in the particular animal’s species. This will effect everything around it, for example ...
The main areas where the sloth populations are being affected the greatest are the northern and eastern coasts of South America. The three-toed sloth is most commonly found in red mangrove forests where the land and sea meet. These areas are also where deforestation is most prominent. sloths live in the trees on which they also feed. ...
Humans are destructive. Not a lot of us think about how what we do affects the world around us. We almost act like we are the only ones on this planet. We go around polluting and destroying our world with no regard for our actions. The things that live out in the wild are paying the price for it. Every day that passes there is another animal or plant that is placed on an endangered list. This is happening at an alarming rate. Because of man’s desire to expand and conquer their surroundings, there are animals and plants that are on the brink of extinction that will not be around for our kids and future generations to enjoy if something is not done about it now. This problem has been going on for hundreds of years. There are animals and plants that can only been seen in paintings or early photography. It is because of our early ancestors that we have this problem today and we have to do more to prevent more animals and plants from disappearing forever.
Since approximately 1250 B.C., ancient Egyptians had created and practiced the capture and display of animals in what are now known as zoos (Fravel). Records describe such exotic animals as birds, lions, giraffes, and tigers in captivity (Fravel). Since then, zoos have continued to entertain millions with the exciting chance to view exotic animals up close and personal. Even in ancient Greece, exotic animals were on display in fighting arenas, and in enclosed viewing areas. Originally in America, zoos were just created so that royalty and the wealthy could flaunt their exotic animals to the public (Leolupus). Today, with species threatened and habitats disappearing worldwide, zoos are serving a new purpose other than the mere exhibition of animals – conservation. (Fravel). When you think of a zoo, you either think of a fun, entertaining place that provides close-up and exciting exhibits of wild animals that you would otherwise never get the chance to see, or a place where people keep suffering, unhappy animals captive just for entertainment and display. However, despite whichever view you hold, and despite the stereotypes, some zoos have evolved to serve alternative and helpful purposes. Although some zoos face controversy due to allegations such as lack of space and quality care, neglect, and cruelty, some zoos have programs specifically designed to help and protect animal species. For example, these zoos have programs that help such conservation efforts as breeding.
slow extinction, or did it happen all of the sudden? These questions bring rise to many
The. In 1995, the number had been reduced to around 64 million. Within 20 years, in short, the duck population was reduced by almost one third, showing. the drastic toll hunting is taking on our wildlife. If we assume that other species have been reduced in number at approximately the same rate in recent years, then what are the larger implications for our ecological balance?
Obviously, every time an animal dies, the impact could be tremendous. However if the red panda becomes extinct, we would be losing help in the terms of preventing global warming. According to Natasha Freya, she stated that red pandas are very important to the environment because they contribute to clean air and water for over 500 million people. This is because they help maintain a healthy and clean forest. Red Pandas live in bamboo and hollow trees with an average temperature of 10 to 25 degrees Celsius. The forests that the panda’s habitat is in ranges from Nepal to southwest China. If these forests are maintained (by the red panda) and function properly, then we can guarantee a healthy life for the people, animals, and plants of South Asia. Secondly, The Red Panda has a unique biology. The Red Panda is the only species of its kind in the world. Their behavior is unique and they are specialists in their environment. They also have no close living relatives, ultimately making them more unique than most animals! They also play a big role in the food chain. If Red Pandas were to become extinct, the animal’s predators wouldn't have enough of its prey to eat. Also their extinction would disrupt the whole food chain and more animals would die. These Pandas eat insects, bamboo, fruit, eggs, leaves, and plants so therefore, Red Pandas control the growth and population of these animals and species. Red Pandas play a very important role in the ecosystem and it would be a very unfortunate loss if they became extinct.
Currently, Giant Pandas are highly endangered with only 1,600 living freely in the wild and roughly 300 living in zoos or breeding centers. This low number of existing pandas means the species has a relatively high risk of becoming extinct. The pandas reside mostly in China around the basin area of Yangtze, which poses a major problem, because this area is currently one of China’s most thriving regions with constant destruction and new development. Therefore, the bears are pushed into small areas without the living conditions they are accustomed to. The pandas are continuously fighting for their lives in result of habitat loss, low reproduction rate, food shortage, and poaching.
In our world today we have approximately 26,021 endangered species. Endangered species are organisms that may possible become extinct. The term 'endangered species' refers to all species that fits this description. However some conservation biologists and scientists normally use the term ‘endangered species’ to refer to species that are put on the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature)Red List. Many factors can be looked at when considering the conservation status of a species. Factors such as human threats or environmental threats can cause a species to become endangered.