jaguar vs Polar bear

Panthera onca compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• jaguar is Near Threatened while Polar bear is Vulnerable.
• Polar bear is 4.5x heavier than jaguar.
• Polar bear lives longer (25 years vs 15 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	jaguar	Polar bear
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order same	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Panthera (Big Cats)	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Panthera onca	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

jaguar and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)

Conservation Status

jaguar

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~64.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	jaguar	Polar bear
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	15 years	25 years
Average Length	1.9 m	2.4 m
Average Weight	100.0 kg	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

jaguar

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Neotropic and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

jaguar

The largest cat in the Americas, reaching up to 100 kg with a stocky, muscular build and distinctive rosette-patterned coat. Found from Mexico through South America, with strongholds in the Amazon and Pantanal. Powerful swimmers and apex predators, jaguars play a critical role in regulating prey populations. Near Threatened, with range contracting due to deforestation.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.