Creature Feature #353: Jaguarundi

The Jaguarundi is a small feline, making her home in the forests of Central and South America. She is active during the day, preying on small mammals and birds. With her stout legs and elongated body, she prefers to hunt on the ground. Although she prefers a solitary existence, in captivity she will tolerate companions. She is surprisingly vocal, purring, whistling, yap and even chirping.

Creature Feature #352: Jaguar

The Jaguar is the largest feline in the Western Hemisphere. She prowls the forests of Central and South America. She is solitary in nature, and both a skilled climber and swimmer. An apex predator, she has an extremely powerful bite and will bite prey directly through the skull, piercing the brain. These jaws are also efficient on armoured animals such as tortoises and armadillo. Jaguar favour larger prey, and will even hunt caiman. She uses a stalk and ambush technique, lying in wait for prey to wander near. Females come in contact with males only for mating, raising their cubs alone.

Creature Feature #351: Jackdaw

The Jackdaw is a European corvid, resident across Europe, western Asia and North Africa. She is noted for being a collector of shiny objects, which she hoards in her nest. Pairs are long-term and monogamous, with partners stay together within their flocks. Flocks have a strong hierarchy, and bonded pairs share the same rank, with females assuming their mates rank and unpaired females perching lowest in the pecking order. Paired birds also engage in mutual preening. Jackdaw will also share food, activally passing favoured titbits to other members of the flock, regardless of gender or familial bonds.

Creature Feature #350: Jackal

The Jackal is a small canine, an opportunistic carnivore found in Africa. She shares a territory with her mate, sometimes allowing their youngsters to remain with them, but chasing off any potential rivals. Her large feet and fused leg bones allow her to cover long distances in pursuit of prey and she is capable of long-distance running (16 km/hr). She is a skilled hunter, with the black-backed capturing prey several times her size, although carrion is often consumed.

Creature Feature #349: Jacana

The Jacana are a group of tropical waders, sometimes known as lily trotters or "Jesus birds". Their toes are extremely long and enable them to step neatly across floating vegetation, essentially giving the apperance of walking on water. Eight species currently exist and they are spread across the tropics. This fine individual is an African Jacana. Females are larger than males. She will mate with multiple partners, leaving them to hatch the eggs and raise the chicks, a highly unusual occurance. The father has develoepd the ability to pick up the and carry the chicks beneath his wings, allowing him to transport them across the pond.

Creature Feature #348: Jacamar

Jacamar are small, brightly coloured birds of South and Central America. His diet is insectivorous. He sits and waits, with beak raised, until a butterfly, dragonfly or moth flutters past, then he snatches it on the wing. It is then beaten against a branch before being eaten. There are eighteen species, spread across five genera. The Rufous-tailed is the most common. Two to four eggs are laid in a burrow or a termite mound. Jacamar are generally considered to be monogamous, and some may engage in co-operative breeding, with several adults sharing the duties. Chicks hatch covered in down.

Creature Feature #347: Jabiru

The Jabiru is a large American stork, ranging from Mexico to Argentina. Her name translates as "swollen neck". Male and female are similar in appearance, with the male being larger in size. They feed in flocks, wading through shallow water, holding their bills at a 45 degree angle to the water. Prey is located by tactile sensation and when captured, she closes her beak, draws it from the water and throws back her head to swallow. She is an opportunistic hunter, and will also eat rodents and carrion if the opportunity arises.