The jaguar is the largest and most ferocious cat of the Americas, pound for pound more fierce and dangerous than: the tiger, the lion or the leopard. The Jaguar is at the pinnacle of the food chain in the Americas. The Jaguar is fiercely independent and cunning and both males and females are very territorial. It is the only large cat that routinely hunts in the water and in both Meso and South America it was a potent symbol of prowess in either hunting or battle.
The Jaguar figures prominently in the mythology of most cultures in South and Central America. It occurs in the art and religion of all pre-Colombian American civilizations and was considered a familiar and a companion of Shamans among the Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs . It is an extraordinarily ancient and powerful totem animal and was a symbol of the nobility and the authority of royal families. The fur, claws and teeth of the jaguar were often used to adorn and decorate the costumes and finery of the highest ranking individuals.
