Jaguars look a bit like leopards, but they are heavier and stockier with bigger, rounder heads. The pattern of dark rosette shapes on their fur is unique to each individual - no two jaguars have exactly the same spots. Some jaguars are almost completely black, but if you look closely in good light you can still see the rosette pattern underneath.
Unlike most cats, jaguars absolutely love water. They are excellent swimmers and often hunt in rivers and streams, catching fish, turtles, and caimans (a type of South American crocodilian). They also eat deer, peccaries (wild pig-like animals), and capybaras. Jaguars are so strong that scientists say they have the most powerful bite of any big cat relative to their size.
In Guaraní culture, the yaguareté is deeply respected as a powerful and intelligent spirit of the forest. Paraguay has set up conservation programmes to protect jaguars in the Chaco and other wild areas, and tracking teams use camera traps hidden in the jungle to count and identify individuals without disturbing them.