Difference Between Leopard, Cheetah and Jaguar

Difference Between Leopard, Cheetah, and Jaguar: Leopards, cheetahs, and jaguars are three species of large cats. They are members of the Felidae family. The cheetah belongs to the genus Acinonyx. Whereas the jaguar and leopard belong to the genus Panthera. They are all three carnivorous animal species. The primary difference between a cheetah, leopard, and jaguar is that the jaguar has black spots organized in rosettes with a black spot in the center of the body. There is no central patch in the smaller, closely spaced rosettes on the leopard. In contrast, the visible black lines of a cheetah extend from the inner corners of each eye to the outer corners of the mouth.

Leopard

The physical characteristics, habitat, and behavior of leopards are described below:

Physical Characteristics

The leopard is a large isolated cat found in the woods of southern Asia and Africa. It has a whitish or brown coat with black markings. It is also one of the genera Panthera’s five living species. Considering their large proportions, leopards have comparatively small legs. They have massive jaws, broad heads, and large skulls in addition to powerful muscles. Their bodies have developed muscles that allow them to climb with speed. The leopard’s fur contains rosettes that resemble the markings of a jaguar. However, the rosettes lack central dots and are smaller and more densely packed.

Habitat

Leopards can be found in several countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Although they formerly had large populations, they are now thought to be extinct in Hong Kong, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Singapore, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. Compared to jaguars, they inhabit a wider range of environments, including semi-arid and desert areas. They may also be found in mountainous regions, tropical woods, and prairie savannas; however, there is a small colony in the frozen fields of eastern Russia.

Behavior

Leopards kill by suffocating their prey with a bite to the throat. Although they hunt on occasion too, leopards prefer to consume smaller prey like antelope, rodents, and monkeys. Typically, gazelles, impalas, and other medium-sized hoofed mammals are the prey of leopards. Males and females of the leopard species can have multiple relationships. Every 46 days, female leopards go through a cycle in which the heat lasts for seven days. During this time, they can copulate up to 100 times every day.

Cheetah

The physical characteristics, habitat, and behavior of cheetah are described below:

Physical Characteristics

Cheetahs are huge cats which are native to Africa. Cheetahs lack retractable claws since they are not members of the Panthera genus. The cheetah is the fastest mammal. When measured against the other members of the feline family, cheetahs are smaller, with longer limbs and a thinner build. They have small, rounded heads, short legs, and a black stripe that extends from the nose to the inner corner of each eye. They range in length from 112 to 150 cm (44 to 59 inches), in height from 67 to 94 cm (26 to 37 inches), and in weight from 20 to 72 kg (44 to 159 lbs). Their body is covered in small, black, spherical dots that vary in intensity from yellow to black. Unlike previous generations, they do not have distinct shapes.

Habitat

Cheetahs have suffered greatly, with several species going extinct and a few just existing in certain regions. Additionally, they are widespread in southern and western Africa. Their range is limited to Iran’s central deserts in Asia. Cheetahs inhabit a variety of environments, such as harsh deserts, dense shrubs, arid woods, and meadows. They also live on harsh slopes, salt flats, and plains.

Behaviour

The only big cat species that is not nocturnal is the cheetah. They are nocturnal creatures that spend the day hunting in packs. Cheetahs can attain top speeds of 70 mph (110 km/h), as they are developed more for speed than strength.

Jaguar

Physical characteristics, habitat and behavior of jaguar are described below:

Physical Characteristics

The largest member of the cat family (Felidae) in the Pacific region is the Jaguar. It is a member of the Panthera genus. Jaguars are usually orange to tan in color, with black spots grouped in rosettes with a black spot in the middle. Jaguar has an average height of 75 cm (29.5 inches) and a length of 150 to 180 cm (59 to 71 inches). In addition, its lengthy tail is 70 to 90 cm (27.5 to 35.5 inches). They have large heads and quite powerful jaws, and they are robust and muscular despite their diminutive size and short legs. Despite not being as swift as other cats, they more than makeup for it with their strength and power. The outside legs, throat, and belly of the jaguar are all white.

Habitat

Native to northern Mexico, the jaguar extends south to northern Argentina. Although they sometimes survive in scrublands and deserts, marshes and forested areas are typically the habitats of choice for jaguars. Depending on the specific area they live in, jaguar habitats differ substantially. They can be found in deciduous forests, thorny scrubland, grasslands, marshes, and rainforests. They often like grazing areas, xerophilic environments, and lowland tropical rainforest forests.

Behaviour

Jaguars are renowned for their deadly, well-aimed bite, which they use to strike their prey in the skull or back of the neck. Because female jaguar heat cycles average 37 days, jaguars can reproduce year-round. They persist for six to seventeen days. The best time to expect mating is between December and March.

What is the difference between Leopard, Cheetah and Jaguar?

Leopards, cheetahs, and jaguars are distinct big cat species, each characterized by unique physical features and behaviors. Leopards, with their golden-yellow fur adorned with rosette patterns, are highly adaptable and can be found across a wide range of habitats, from savannas to forests. Known for their strength, leopards are proficient climbers and often haul their prey into trees to avoid scavengers.

Cheetahs, on the other hand, are recognized for their incredible speed and distinctive black tear stripes on their faces. Built for sprinting, cheetahs are the fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds up to 70 miles per hour in short bursts. Their slender, aerodynamic bodies and non-retractable claws contribute to their exceptional hunting prowess.

Jaguars, with their robust build and powerful jaws, are native to the Americas. Their striking golden-yellow coats boast rosette patterns similar to leopards, but with a central spot within each rosette. Jaguars are strong swimmers and are often found near water, showcasing a diverse habitat range from rainforests to grasslands. Unlike cheetahs, jaguars rely on stealth and strength rather than speed in capturing their prey.

Also read, Difference Between Leopard and Cheetah

Tabular Difference Between Leopard, Cheetah and Jaguar

The following table lists the primary differences between leopard, cheetah, and jaguar:

Aspects	Leopard	Cheetah	Jaguar
Definition	A leopard is a huge, solitary cat native to the woods of southern Asia and Africa.	A cheetah is a large, slender, spotted cat found in portions of Asia and Africa. It is the fastest mammal on Earth.	A jaguar is a huge, powerful cat that lives mostly in the deep woods of Central and South America. It has a yellowish-brown coat with black patches.
Scientific Name	The scientific name of the leopard is Panthera pardus.	The scientific name of the cheetah is Acinonyx jubatus.	The scientific name of the jaguar is Panthera Onca.
Habitat	The leopard inhabits the woodlands of Africa and southern Asia.	The cheetah resides in portions of Asia.	The jaguar inhabits the deep woods of Central and South America.
Running Speed	The leopard can reach speeds of up to 58 km/h.	The cheetah can reach speeds of up to 80–130 km/h.	The jaguar may reach speeds of up to 80 km/h.
Height	The leopard ranges in height from 60 to 70 cm.	The cheetah ranges in height from 67 to 94 cm.	The jaguar ranges in height from 63 to 76 cm.
Weight	A leopard weighs about 31 kg.	A cheetah typically weighs between 21 and 72 kg.	A jaguar weighs between 56 and 96 kg.
Fur Color	The leopard’s coat is primarily cream-yellow on the belly and darkens slightly to an orange-brown on the back.	The cheetah’s upper coat of fur is gray, pale buff, or grayish-white, with paler and whiter underparts.	The jaguar’s fur is dark with black rosettes, but some have black-on-black, or melanistic, coloration.
Lifespan	The leopard has a 12 to 17 year lifespan.	The cheetah has a 10 to 12 year lifespan.	The jaguar has a 12 to 15 year lifespan.

Similarities Between Leopard, Cheetah and Jaguar

Despite having so many differences, leopard, cheetah and jaguar share some similarities. Following are some of the similarities between leopard, cheetah and jaguar:

• The Felidae family of large cats includes the cheetah, leopard, and jaguar.
• Important characteristics include their fur color, teeth, height, weight, and behavior.
• They all have spots on their skin.
• Furthermore, all three of them are omnivores.

FAQs on Leopard, Cheetah and Jaguar

1. What’s the difference between leopard and cheetah?

Aside from spots and coat color, leopards are stronger, thicker, and typically heavier than cheetahs since they are stronger animals rather than ones that are fast or agile. Conversely, cheetahs are the swiftest land mammal and are light, flexible, and streamlined in shape due to their requirement for speed.

2. Who is faster cheetah, leopard or jaguar?

Despite having some striking similarities to leopards or jaguars, cheetahs are considerably slenderer and have a far faster running speed than their other big-cat cousins. The cheetah is the fastest mammal on Earth, reaching top speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph).

3. Is jaguar a type of cheetah?

Both cheetahs and jaguars are huge cat species. Despite their shared appearance, they are very different from one another. Cheetahs inhabit Africa and Iran, while jaguars inhabit the Americas. Even though they never clash in the wild, the jaguar would almost definitely prevail in a fight with the cheetah.

4. Is cheetah a cat or tiger?

Any one of the 37 cat species that make up the family Felidae, including the domestic cat, lion, lynx, puma, jaguar, leopard, and cheetah. Cats are indigenous to nearly every part of the planet.

5. How many jaguars are left in the world?

The number of jaguars remaining in the wild is estimated to be around 173,000, making them “near threatened.” It is improper to use jaguars for any kind of commercial endeavor, regardless of their status. Since they are wildlife, they ought to live in the wild.