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This jaguar cub is two months old, and under the right lighting, you can still spot faint rosettes beneath the dark fur. The black coat comes from melanism, a genetic condition where excess melanin deepens the coloration. About 10 percent of wild jaguars have this rare variation. The gene responsible is dominant, meaning just one parent carrying it can pass it on. As a result, cubs in the same litter can be either black or spotted, depending on which genes they inherit.

A dark coat can help in the forest, where shadows and dense trees offer cover. Camouflage is essential for ambush predators. However, there is a tradeoff. Most jaguars have white patches on the backs of their ears, which may help with subtle signaling and assist cubs in tracking their mother through dense cover. Black jaguars usually lack those markings, which improves concealment but may slightly reduce visual communication.

Bright Eyes and Baby Teeth

Like many baby cats, jaguar cubs are born with their eyes sealed shut and completely helpless. Their cloudy blue eyes usually open around day 10. As they grow, the color shifts to the golden amber or hazel tones seen in adults. (Most big cat cubs begin with bluish eyes that darken over time.)

In the wild, jaguar cubs begin sampling solid food around 10 to 11 weeks of age, and this cub is nearly at that point. Cubs can start nibbling on small pieces of meat, though they continue nursing from their mother for several more months. You can already see its small canines. Jaguars are known for having the strongest bite of any big cat relative to body size, but at this age, that bite is mostly used during playful scuffles with siblings.

Tiny Paws, Big Plans

Have you ever seen anything as adorable as a jaguar cub’s paw? At this age, it’s about the size of a lime, with soft pink pads that are still smooth from lack of use. In the photo above, you can see the underside showing four main toes, a small dewclaw, and tiny pale claws. Jaguar cubs are born with retractable claws, but they haven’t yet learned to fully control them, so a claw may stay partly visible even when resting. The soft pads help muffle their steps on the forest floor. As they grow, their large paws help distribute weight, making it easier to move across mud or soft ground. In time, these same paws will allow the cub to climb trees and swim. Jaguars are one of the few cat species that enjoy water and often begin swimming early under their mother’s guidance.

From Helpless to Fearless

It’s hard to believe that just two months ago, this jaguar cub was a blind, deaf newborn weighing less than a kilogram (about 2 pounds). At birth, jaguar cubs typically weigh between 0.5 and 0.9 kilograms (1 to 2 pounds) and are about the size of a pineapple. For the first few weeks, they stay hidden in a den while their mother keeps watch nearby. Around day 10, their eyes and ears begin to open, and by the third week, they start to wobble around. By 6 to 8 weeks old, they’re steady enough on their feet to follow her on short outings. Playtime with mom and siblings helps build coordination, balance, and the reflexes they’ll later rely on when hunting.

In the weeks ahead, this cub will start nibbling on small pieces of meat while still nursing. Cubs remain with their mothers for up to two years in the wild, gradually learning how to survive on their own. During that time, they learn to find ambush spots, move silently through the forest, and deliver the powerful skull bite jaguars are known for. Jaguars are capable of taking down large prey like caimans and wild pigs. This cub, like all jaguars, is born with that potential.

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