KEYSTONE SPECIES-JAGUAR (CARNIVORY PREDATOR)

Jaguars have a very diverse diet of about 87 different species, which contributes to their importance by keeping the numbers of these species in balance. Jaguars are apex predators and keystone species. Without their interactions, their ecosystem could be at risk. Other than interactions between their own species for mating purposes, these animals have interactions with their prey and with humans (A-Z Animals, 2013). Most of the interactions between jaguars and other species are negative. Either the jaguar kills its prey, or the jaguar itself is hunted, and in each of these situations, only one side of the relationship benefits. Jaguars not only avoid interaction with other species, but their own too. They are territorial animals, and after a cub is born, the father leaves because the mother becomes very protective. Their prey consists of deer, peccaries, capybaras (the largest rodent in the world), and tapirs (Big Cat Rescue, 2014). Jaguars either chase and capture their prey, or climb trees that allow them to swiftly jump down and kill their prey in a powerful bite. Not only do they prey on land animals such as these, they are capable of swimming, and prey on fish, turtles, and caimans (animals similar to alligators).