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The animal on the cover of Cisco IOS Cookbook, Second Edition is a black jaguar (Panthera onca), sometimes called a black panther. While the color of black (melanastic) jaguars differs from that of the more common golden-yellow variety, they are of the same species. Jaguars of all types are native to the tropics, swamps, and grasslands of Central and South America (and rumored to still exist in parts of the Southwestern U.S.), but the black jaguar is usually found only in dense forests. They are between 4 and 6 feet long and have a long tail that is usually about 30 inches long. Males can weigh up to 250 pounds, while females are considerably smaller and rarely grow to more than 150 pounds. Although black jaguars often appear to be solid black in artistic renditions and photography, their coats still have the dark rings containing even darker spots that are a distinguishing feature of all jaguars. Also notable are their eyes, which are a shiny, reflective yellow.
Jaguars will eat almost any animal, including sloths, pigs, deer, monkeys, and cattle. Their hooked claws allow them to catch fish, frogs, turtles, and even small alligators. Although jaguars sit at the top of the rain forest food chain, humans are a large threat-it’s estimated ...