Jaguars aren’t just stealthy predators on land, they’re equally as dangerous in the water. These apex predators are powerful, even stalking and ambushing other apex predators. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to watch the incredible hunting prowess of the jaguar.
How do Jaguars Hunt?
When they’re on the ground, jaguars hunt their prey under the cover of nightfall. Although they’re speedy on land, they prefer the element of surprise. Instead of expending their energy on a full-on chase, they take on a slower hunting style, first stalking their prey. Once they’ve gotten close enough, they ambush their prey and use their razor-sharp teeth and ridiculously strong jaw muscles to kill. If they spot prey in the water, like a caiman, they are not afraid of getting wet. They swim quite well, and caimans aren’t the only water-dwelling creatures they hunt. They also go for turtles and fish.
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How do Caimans Defend Themselves?
Caimans dwell in swampland, lakes, and rivers. Like jaguars, they’re also carnivores, feasting on waterfowl, fish, and crustaceans. They’re generally considered docile but if they are threatened, they display aggression. They have flattened tails that help them swim but they also use them to protect themselves if a predator approaches. Caimans also have powerful jaws and swallow their prey whole — like jaguars, caimans are apex predators.
Jaguar vs. Caiman
The clip below starts out with a shot of a jaguar swimming in muddy water with the narrator explaining that this isn’t an unusual scene as jaguars are the most aquatic of the big cats. The video was taken in Central Brazil and the jaguar is already engaging in its hunting behavior. It’s “scanning the buffet line,” as the narrator puts it while it walks along the edge of the murky water with brush behind it. The cameraman pans to the right and the narrator explains that across the river, there are two unsuspecting caimans. The next shot is of the jaguar swimming in the water, its head barely visible.
The narrator points out the stealth with which the jaguar swims, not creating a lot of splashes as it makes its way over to ambush its prey. As the jaguar makes it over to the sandbar, it keeps its quiet approach. Once it’s gotten close enough it jumps up onto the sandbar, takes two steps, and heads for the back of the caiman’s neck. The caiman barely has time to react and by the time it does, it’s too late. The narrator explains that with its bite, the jaguar disconnects the caiman’s nervous system — and you can see that it’s no longer trying to put up a fight.
The post Watch a ‘Quiet as a Mouse’ Jaguar Sneak Up on a Caiman and Pounce for Its Dinner appeared first on AZ Animals.
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