Jaguars are found primarily in the Americas, spanning a wide range of countries and habitats. Their current distribution includes 19 countries across North, Central, and South America: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, United States, and Venezuela
. They inhabit diverse environments such as dense rainforests, dry deciduous forests, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, rainforests, cloud forests, seasonally flooded wetlands, dry grasslands, swamps, and riverine habitats with dense vegetation
. The Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal region hold the largest populations, with around 50% of jaguars found in Brazil alone
. In the United States, jaguars are rare and mostly found in the southwestern states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, with occasional sightings and some protected populations, though they are considered nearly extirpated from much of their former northern range
. Historically, jaguars ranged as far north as the southern United States and as far south as northern Argentina, but their range has contracted significantly due to habitat loss and other threats
. In summary, jaguars are found from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America, extending into much of South America, especially in Brazil and the Amazon basin, favoring dense forests and areas near water
