The jaguar is a speed specialist, and needs to blend in with cover surrounding a wide open area, where its speed can be useful. I remember seeing it stated that their sprints are over seventy miles per hour.


Are you sure you aren't mixing your cats, Dr. Bill? I have never read anything of jaguars' having the same speed as cheetahs, and your description of them as speed specialists definitely fits the cheetah, which does hunt on wide open areas. From the encarta article on jaguars: "The head and body are massive, and the legs are relatively short and thick. An adept climber and an excellent swimmer". The undisputed sprint champ, the cheetah has a verydifferent physique. It can't climb well, has only semi-retractable claws, and has very lean, long legs. Given that its design is very different from that of the jaguar, I would love to see any reference anywhere to jaguars' being able to match the cheetah in speed.


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