Jaguars and Climate Change

A jaguar (Panthera onca) living in the rainforest 1,000 years from now after climate change would likely be a significantly different creature. They would evolve to have lighter fur color with fewer spots, in order to blend in with the sandy tone color of its environment. The paws would widen to distribute weight on loose sand. They may develop longer ears to help with heat transfer to keep the body cooler. Their tails would shorten, given the reduced need to climb and to adapt to running on open ground. Other changes would include weight loss, due to less availability of prey leading to dietary changes, as opposed to their current diet of deer, fish, turtles, caimans, birds, and reptiles. Given the amount of changes that are needed for survival, there is a high chance that this population will decrease over time or even become extinct.