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The background coat color is reddish yellow, except in the inside of the ears, the lower part of the muzzle, jaws and throat and the ventral parts. In these areas the color is lighter; in the lower legs the predominant color is white.
There are black spots, with rosette shape, circles or elongated or irregular stripes that form lines more or less parallels in the flanks and that cross in X and get together again along the spine; the spots are smaller on the head, neck and legs than on the rest of the body. The last third of the tail presents rings.
The pattern and distribution of the spots differ in all specimens and usually the females are of lighter coloration.
There are also melanic individuals, with black coat, where it is possible to detect the spots with backlighting since they appear even darker. There are also albinos, but they are extremely rare. Some of them have been spotted in Paraguay and Salta.
Most prominent morphologic features.
 Head, large and broad, with small roundish ears.
Cranium short and roundish with broad zygomatic arches.
Eyes with vertically contracting pupils.
Dentition, 30 teeth adapted to cutting, tearing and crushing.
Body, muscular and compact; neck, short and tail, long and thin.
Legs, short and strong, with five digits on the front ones and four on the back ones, that end in retractile curved claws.
Hair, short, thick and soft on the head, back and legs. Longer on the throat, lower neck, chest and abdomen.
The subspecies present in Argentina, Panthera onca palustris, is probably the largest of all. Although according to
many investigators and local people, it is possible the existence of specimen that are shorter and bowlegged, what may suggest the existence of another subspecies in Argentina.
This must be confirmed.
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Leopardo |
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Yaguareté |
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- In Africa and Asia. |
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- In America |
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- Smaller, lighter and more agile. |
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- Larger, heavier and more massive. |
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- Spends most of the time on trees or high rocks. |
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- Good climber but spends most of its time on the ground. |
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- Spots are rather small, coat is yellowish. |
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- Spots are large, rosette shaped. Coat orange. |
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- Has several natural enemies: Lions, Tigers, Hyenas that may kill adults as well as cubs. |
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- Has no natural enemies other than occasionally a juvenile or even an adult can be killed by a herd of peccaries, a large caiman, anaconda or a large anteater. All of these are usually its prey but can turn into a threat depending in the circumstances. |
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- Attacks man. There are many documented cases of man eating Leopards, (as well as Tigers and Lions). |
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- Doesn't attack man except in specific circumstances (being disrupted when eating, or when it has young, there can be other circumstances). No man eating jaguars are known, although there have been mortal attacks or severely maiming ones. |
Translated from Spanish by Beatriz Moisset
Willow Grove, Pensylvania, USA.
Red Yaguareté.
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