Habitat and Range: Jaguars are mostly found in the rainforests of South and Central America. They are also found in swamps, deserts and dry grassland terrain. The most preferred habitat of jaguars is dense forest with thick vegetation.They are often found near sources of water and tend to make dens in caves.o tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards are the largest felines. While the tiger is the largest big cat, lions are the second largest, followed by jaguars and leopards. In short, the jaguar is the third largest big cat in the world. Unlike other felines, those in genus Panthera have the ability to roar.