European Jaguar - Italy


Italy is the only country on the European mainland featuring active volcanoes; Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna, and Mount Stromboli being the most famous. Mount Vesuvius buried the Roman city of Pompeii in 79 AD. Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily, is the tallest of the Italian volcanoes; it stands at almost 3,400 meters. 

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Panthera gombaszoegensis - Fossil remains of the European jaguar were found in Olivola, Italy and dated as the earliest Panthera species in Europe. The Panthera genus includes lions, jaguars, leopards, and tigers. These cats, with the exception of the snow leopard, have anatomical features allowing them to roar. Most animals have triangular vocal chords, but those of the Panthera genus are squared and flattened. This produces a louder sound with a minimal amount of air having to pass over the vocal chords.