The difference between leopard, cheetah and jaguar explained
| March 26, 2021 | In the wild, it is sometimes difficult to tell a leopard from a cheetah or a jaguar. Felines are impressive animals, they have their own characteristics for each species… In this article we will explain the main differences to you.
Focus on felines
There is little, I introduced you to the King of felines, the white lion, today I want to meet the leopard, the cheetah and the jaguar.
Many people confuse the leopard and the cheetah, the jaguar and the leopard, the cheetah and the jaguar… although these three felines each have a coat spotted with black, their similarities end there!
The first trips created by South African Travellers for our families, friends and clients, were mainly focused on safaris in the Kruger National Park, we wanted to share our love for the animals that lived there. Since then, we have grown, expanded our destinations and offer tailor-made trips throughout Southern Africa.
How to tell a leopard from a cheetah or a jaguar?
Leopard (Panthera pardus)
The leopard , also called a panther, is more massive than the cheetah, it weighs about 60kg (10 more than the cheetah). Its body is long and muscular and its legs are wide, its claws are retractable. Thanks to its particularly developed pectoral muscles, this feline is an excellent climber, it often takes refuge in trees.
He has the peculiarity of hoisting its prey to the fork of a tree to put them out away from other predators.
His coat is marked in its entirety by spots with a black outline which overlap and form rosettes (empty inside).
The leopard roars like a lion while the cheetah meows!
Did you know ?
Some leopards present a black coat, they suffer from a pigment abnormality, they are called black panthers.
Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus)
Cheetah more often called cheetah in South Africa, is a large carnivorous mammal that lives exclusively in southern Africa.
The allure cheetah is slender with long slender legs and a lean muscular body and unheard of power. Its head is thin, reminiscent of a cat, and is marked by two black lines that start from the corner of the eyes and go to the mouth, similar to tears. Its claws are non-retractable, which makes it allows better adhesion to the ground.
The cheetah hunts in broad daylight, in the morning or in the late afternoon when the heat decreases. Its preys are small to medium in size such as gazelles, warthogs, hares. It’s a solitary predator whose technique is sprinting.
Known to be the fastest land animal, it can reach 110km / h unlike the leopard, 60km / h and the jaguar, 50km / h. His long cock helps him keep your balance when cornering at over 100km / h.
His golden-colored coat is entirely stained with black dots.
The Scream cheetah is a meow like a cat, so easily recognizable.
Did you know ?
The cheetah was once used and trained as a hunting assistant by kings.
The jaguar (Panthera onca)
The Jaguar , another big feline of the leopard family, lives in Central and South America.
The difference between jaguar and leopard is its larger size and its more massive appearance. The average weight of a jaguar reaches 100kg. Her impressive jaw is the most powerful in the world.
His coat is strewn with rosettes in which we find small dots black which differentiates it from the leopard whose rosettes are empty.
The jaguar is a carnivore which has a very good hunting instinct. It is feeds on deer, caimans, fish, turtles, its favorite prey is the cabiai (the largest rodent which measures about 1m and weighs more than 50kg).
The jaguar is also very skilled at hunting in water.
The jaguar roars, its cry echoes in the rainforests. He can too growl, growl, meow … but it is rather silent and can pass whole days without making noise.
Did you know ?
The hunting technique of jaguar is unknown to other felines, discreet approach and brief attack, it bites its prey at the nape of the neck to break the spine.
Travel to Africa with us
And if Did you come to observe leopards and cheetahs up close?
South African Travellers , a local French-speaking agency based in Cape Town, specialising in tailor-made trips to Southern Africa will be happy to create the trip of your dreams to meet the big cats, so, no more hesitation, contact us!
See you soon,
Irina.
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