Jaguars are the largest cat in the western hemisphere.
The background of the jaguar's coat is a tawny-yellow, like many of the Asiatic leopards, and lightened to whitish on the throat and belly. The jaguar is marked with small isolated spots on the head and neck with dark open ring structures, rosettes , on the sides and flank that generally contain one to four dark spots inside the rings. Along the middle of the jaguar's back, a row of black spots may merge into a solid line. According to one Indian myth, the jaguar acquired its spotted coat by daubing mud on its body with its paws. At least one albino individual, with pink eyes and white claws, has been reported.