Keystone species are critically important to others in the community. Their removal causes dramatic changes for other species, altering the balance in the community. Jaguars have distinctive spots. In the rainforest, this serves as an advantage. The spotted pattern moving through the sun-flecked light and alternating shadow becomes less of an obvious physical outline, thereby disguising the jaguar as it stealthily moves across the forest floor.
Jaguars are normally solitary.
Still widely distributed in South America, but persecuted as predators by cattle ranchers, they have become extinct or endangered in many local areas. 1998 Passport to Knowledge. All Rights Reserved.