The Big Cats

Whats the difference between a lion, a tiger, a leopard and a jaguar?

THE fierce felines known as the big cats are among the animal kingdoms most fearsome and ferocious predators. There are 36 different species of big cat, and while they have obvious traits in common, they each have unique characteristic distinct from the other.

The main distinguishing features between big cats are their coats, but also their habitats differ. The only time you’ll ever see any of these cats within thousands of miles of each other is in a zoo.

Lions

Lions are known as the king of the jungle, but they actually live on flat, grassy plains known as savannas, in dry woodlands and deserts. They are native to Africa.

A lions fur is beige and the male lions have a black or brown thick mane of hair around the head and neck. Lions can weigh between 300 to 500 pounds, and their diet consists of large mammals and leftover kills. Hunting for food is primarily undertaken by female lionesses.

Tigers

Tigers have orange and black striped fur and are native to Asia, India, Indonesia and China. Tigers are at home in tropical forests as well as snowcapped evergreen groves. White tigers, like Siberian or Bengal tigers are the same breed, just a different color. Tigers weigh between 400 and 575 pounds. They like to eat deer, antelope, buffalo and wild pigs.

Leopards

The leopards’ famous spots are actually clusters of spots called rosettes because of the flower-like pattern they form. Leopards can be found throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East. They can live in snowy mountains, tropical rain forests and sub-Saharan savannas.

Leopards eat fish, rodents, warthogs, monkeys and more. Leopards are much smaller than lions and tigers, weighing between 65 and 155 pounds.

Snow leopards

These cats have pale gray fur under their rosettes, and thicker pads on their paws for walking in snow. They live in the mountainous regions of central Asia China, the Himalayas, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, as well as Russia and Mongolia, at altitudes between 6,000 to 18,000 feet. They feed on large mammals and birds.

Jaguars

Leopards and jaguars look a lot alike, sporting the same black rosettes over tawny coats, but Jaguars are native to South America, from Mexico all the way to northern Argentina. Jaguars like to be around water and favor tropical forests, swamps and jungle. They eat turtles and armadillos and weigh between 125 and 250 pounds.

Cheetahs

Cheetahs are the fastest animal on the planet with the ability to run at speeds up to 75 per hour over short distances. They have true spots, and are smaller, weighing between 60 and 145 pounds.

Cheetahs prowl the plains, deserts and savannas of Africa, South Asia and the Middle East, but avoid jungles. They eat gazelles, antelopes, ostriches, impalas, ground birds and jackals. Two or more can take down larger prey like zebras.

Picture Above: These tigers are in Indonesia.

New York Post, December 15, 2010
Written by: Robin Wallace