Female Jaguar (Panthera onca) emerges from the dense jungle of the Pantanal wetland in Brazil, and walks into the open. This cat, nicknamed "Patricia" by local guides, patrolled the river bank for a few moments before melting back into the forest.

The Jaguar is the largest cat in the Western Hemisphere (only the Tiger and Lion are larger). Big males are approximately the size of an African Lioness. Jaguars are listed as "Near Threatened" and their future is clouded by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and poaching. This imposing cat is known for killing its prey with a single bite that pierces the skull, delivering a fatal blow to its victim's brain. The Jaguar has been revered by many indigenous cultures, including the Maya and Aztec, whose mythologies featured the cat as a prominent figure.

©2014 David P. Glatz, Glatz Nature Photography. All rights reserved.

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Make:	NIKON CORPORATION
Model:	NIKON D4
Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture:	f/5.0
ISO Speed:	400
Focal Length:	600 mm
Lens:	600.0 mm f/4.0