Research overview: jaguar predation on caiman and capybara

An overview of the jaguar's distinctive predation on aquatic and semi-aquatic prey, especially caiman and capybara in wetland systems like the Pantanal and Llanos. The jaguar's powerful bite, capable of piercing reptile skulls and shells, enables it to exploit prey few other cats can, and in some regions caiman and large rodents dominate the diet. This survey synthesizes diet studies across the jaguar's range, how prey use shifts from forest ungulates and peccaries to aquatic prey in wetlands, and the hunting behavior involved in ambushing prey at water. It connects jaguar morphology and bite force to its broad, regionally variable prey base. The topic illustrates how a felid's physical adaptations open ecological niches and shape predator-prey relationships in Neotropical ecosystems.