The Alaskan timber wolf lives in the freezing temperatures of North America. The jaguar inhabits the hot tropics of South America. What if we were to place these two animals in the same environment? Yes, it’s another animal fight: wolf vs jaguar. Who would win in a fight?
Wolf vs Jaguar Animal Fact Sheet
| Alaskan Timber Wolf | Jaguar | |
| Size | weight 50 – 62 kg height 80 – 91 cm length 1 – 1.6 m | weight 56 – 96 kg height 65 – 75 cm length 1.1 – 1.8 m |
| Speed | 31 – 37 mph | 50 mph |
| Attack | bite force 400 psi | bite force 1500 psi claws |
| Defence | lives in a pack bite | size bite claws |
| Animal Senses | great hearing strong sense of smell | great night vision |
| Habitat | North America forests and tundra | South America forests close to rivers and lakes |
| Diet | carnivore | carnivore |
| Lifespan | 14 years | 12 – 15 years |
| Predators | grizzly bear | humans |
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Wolf vs Jaguar Size
The Alaskan timber wolf is the largest wolf species. Adult males can weigh 50 – 62 kg (110 – 137 lb). They have a body length of 1 – 1.6 m (3 – 5 ft) and a tail length of 29 – 50 cm (11.5 – 19.6 in), and a shoulder height of 80 – 91 cm (31 – 36 in).
The jaguar is the largest cat in South America and the third biggest cat in the world. They vary in size by location, increasing in size from the north to the south.
They weigh 56 – 96 kg (123 – 211 lb), but the biggest males can weigh up to 158 kg (348 lb). They have a shoulder height of 65 – 75 cm (25.5 – 29.5 in). The body measures 1.1 – 1.8 m (3.6 – 5.9 ft), with the tail adding an additional 45 – 75 cm (17 – 29.5 in) of length.
The wolf has a slim taller build, whereas the jaguar has a short, bulky figure.
The jaguar has the size advantage.
Wolf vs Jaguar Speed and Agility
Both animals are fast creatures, with the wolf capable of running at 31 – 37 mph (50 – 60 kph) while the jaguar can sprint at 50 mph (80 kph). The wolf is better at running over long distances, whereas the jaguar uses its speed in short bursts to catch its prey.
The wolf and jaguar are excellent swimmers. The jaguar is the only big cat that is comfortable in the water. Jaguars are also great climbers and will climb as high as 5 m (16.5 ft) up a tree. Unlike the leopard, they will not carry their kills up a tree as they have little competition.
The jaguar has the advantage.
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Wolf vs Jaguar Attack Power
Wolves live and hunt in packs, usually containing 2 – 15 wolves. Hunting like this, they can take down large prey such as elk. A lone wolf is still an efficient predator as they have been seen taking down a moose single-handedly.
The wolf has a bite force of 400 psi and is capable of crushing bone. Their canines are 6.3 cm (2.5 in) long on average, and their claws are 3 cm (1 in) long but aren’t used in taking down prey.
Jaguars have the strongest jaws of all the big cats, with a bite force of 1500 psi. They can bite through a caiman’s thick hide or crack a turtle shell open.
Jaguars stalk their prey approaching the animal from behind before pouncing. Unlike other big cats that kill by biting an animal’s neck. They bite the sides of the animal’s skull by the ear, crushing it with its 7.5 cm (3 in) canines.
The jaguar has the advantage of attacking power in a one-on-one fight.
Wolf vs Jaguar Defence
A lone wolf would use its teeth to defend itself in a fight or use its speed to escape. If the wolf was a member of a pack, then it could rely on the other wolves to back it up during a fight.
A jaguar would also use its teeth, but unlike the wolf, it can also use its claws to swipe at its attacker. To escape, it could run, or if there is a nearby tree, it could climb up it for safety. The jaguar is the apex predator of South America and has no natural predators because of its large size.
The jaguar has the defence advantage.
Wolf vs Jaguar Animal Senses
The wolf has a great sense of smell and hearing. They can smell a hundred times better than humans and hear another wolf howling from 10 miles away. These senses alert them to danger and help them track down prey.
The jaguar has good vision during the day, but its eyesight at night is excellent. Their eyes can reflect light at night better than humans. This enables them to see six times better than us. Their hearing and sense of smell also help them locate food.
Wolf vs Jaguar What Are The Differences?
The size difference is the most significant difference between the jaguar and the wolf. The jaguar is heavier and longer than the wolf but is taller and has a sleeker build. The jaguar is faster and is capable of climbing trees.
The jaguars attacking abilities can inflict more damage. It has bigger teeth, more powerful biting power and can use its claws in a fight. Although both animals are mammals, they belong to different animal families. The wolf is a member of the Canidae family, whereas the jaguar belongs to the Felidae family.
Wolf vs Jaguar Who Would Win In A Fight?
A jaguar would win in a wolf vs jaguar fight. The jaguar has the size, speed and biting power to easily take down a lone wolf. A lone wolf’s only defence against the jaguar is its bite which is strong but not enough to damage the jaguar.
The jaguar’s bite force is three times the strength of the wolf’s. The jaguar is also packing a lot more muscle than a wolf, and using its retractable claws would be able to pin the wolf down quickly.
Cougars have been seen killing wolves, so if they can take on a fully grown wolf, a bigger and stronger jaguar should have no problem.
However, if the jaguar was faced with a pack of wolves, the pack would probably win by working together as a team. The jaguar lacks the stamina the wolf has, but the jaguar won’t go down quickly. A wolf or two would suffer some serious injuries.
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