Why Do Jaguars Roar Quietly?
by Johan Barreiro Adams, age 14
The jaguar is one of the most powerful and feared carnivores in South America. The jaguar's body is built to help it survive and grow in its environment.
For example, while the jaguar’s vocal structure is very similar to other big cats, such as lions, tigers, and cougars, there is one important difference: the jaguar's hyoid bone muffles the roar, which makes it quieter. The hyoid bone is found around the jaguar's heart and basically touches the throat where the jaguar roars. If the hyoid bone is stiff, as it is in jaguars, then the cat won’t make as much noise. This helps the jaguar stay stealthy to hunt for prey. While the jaguar has a muffled roar, it has a large jaw to feed and protect itself and claws to catch animals. Jaguars are well known for eating mammals, turtles, fish, caimans and livestock.
Jaguars are found specifically in the northern region of Central America and are members of the felidae family. The typical weight for a male jaguar is about 198 to 264 lbs while a female jaguar is about 132 to 198 lbs. There are also four related species including margay, leopards, lions and tigers. Overall, jaguars are interesting and fascinating animals.
[Source:
The Encyclopedia of Animals
]