CSG Species Accounts: Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Biology
Reproductive season (W): Probably year-round, but Rabinowitz and Nottingham (1986) reported that young are usually born in the rainy season when prey is more abundant, hence seasonal birth peaks reported in other areas (e.g., Jan-Apr in Venezuela [Hoogesteijn and Mondolfi 1992]) may be correlated with prey availability
Estrus (C): 6-17 days
Estrus cycle (C):
average 37 days, range 22-65 days (Sadleir 1966, Stehlik 1971, Leal 1979)
Gestation (C): average 101, range 91 -111 days (Hemmer 1976)
Litter size (C & W): 1-4, mode 2 (Hoogesteijn and Mondolfi 1992)
Age at independence (W): 1.5-2 years
Age at sexual maturity (C):
2-3 years, females; 3-4 years, males (Mondolfi and Hoogesteijn 1986)
Longevity:
(W): 11-12 years (A. Rabinowitz, unpubl. data, in Swank and Teer 1987)
(C): up to over 20 years (Green 1991)