Jaguars live in the forests of Central and South America. They are the largest South American cats and measure up to 6 ft (1.8 meters) long with a tail of up to 36 in (90 cm). Despite its size, the jaguar is a good climber and often clambers up a tree to watch for prey. It hunts other forest animals such as peccaries and capybaras as well as birds, turtles, and fish.