In scientific classification (taxonomy) the Jaguar (Panthera onca) belongs to the big cat genus Panthera within the subfamily Pantherinae of the Felidae cat family.
Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)
Class: Mammalia (mammals)
Order: Carnivora (carnivores)
Suborder: Feliformia (cat-like)
Subfamily: Pantherinae (big cats)
Genus: Panthera (big cats)
Species: Panthera onca (Jaguar)
Subspecies: Nine
Historically up to nine Jaguar subspecies (or lower classifications) have been recognized:
Panthera onca onca
Panthera onca arizonensis
Panthera onca centralis
Panthera onca goldmani
Panthera onca hernandesii
Panthera onca palustris
Panthera onca paraguensis
Panthera onca peruviana
Panthera onca veraecrucis
However the last Felidae taxonomy revision in 2017 proposed that the Jaguar is a monotypic species (no subspecies). Recent genetic studies found insufficient evidence to support any subspecies of Jaguars, however there are four regional groups that show variations from north to south of the Jaguar's range:
Mexico and Guatemala
Southern Central America
North of the Amazon
South of the Amazon