Why do jaguars bite the skull of the prey?

[Spalea]

@parvez : quite agree with you. The preys of South America are not that big compared to the african or asiatic continents, and above all without horn. Thus, of course the jaguar can use this spectacular method of killing prey (bite through the skull... and reaching the brain). Why the puma doesn't use this way ? Perhaps because the puma's fangs seem longer and finer, thus more adapted to bite through the throat. And of course the puma hasn't a so powerful bite. Perhaps too because the puma would be an invading predator  compared to the jaguar which was there at first. I say an invading predator... I don't speak about a predator able to oust the jaguar but coming from countries with other types of preys with horns (reindeers, bovid calfs...). Reply