Katie Aiken, age 10, of Nogales, Ariz., for her question:

HOW LARGE IS THE JAGUAR?

The jaguar is a ferocious cat that you'll find in the Western Hemisphere. It is slightly smaller, but heavier, than the mountain lion. A male jaguar may grow to be about eight feet long, including its two and one half foot tail. It may weigh up to 290 pounds.

The jaguar is the most feared animal in the Central and South American rainforests. At one time the animal roamed as far north as the deserts of Arizona and Southern California, but now they live only in Mexico, Central America and South America.

The jaguar likes to lie on tree branches and leap upon its prey. It eats such animals as the deer, peccary, tapir and the agouti. It has also killed and eaten human beings.

The animal's fur is usually deep yellow or brownish yellow and marked with many dark spots. Some spots look like broken rings. These spots are light colored with dark borders and a dark spot in the center. Other spots are black.

Some South American jaguars are almost coal black.

Next to the lion and tiger, the jaguar is the third strongest cat.