Leopards, cheetahs, and jaguars are all big cats with spotted coats, but they have distinct differences in their patterns, body shapes, and behaviour. Cheetahs have solid black spots and distinctive tear marks from their eyes to their mouth. The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat belonging to the family Felidae, renowned for being the fastest land animal.
Leopards have smaller rosettes (circular spots) without central dots, while jaguars have larger rosettes with central dots. A leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large, powerful wildcat belonging to the family Felidae. They are part of the Panthera genus, which also includes other big cats like the lion, tiger, and jaguar.
Jaguars are also the heaviest of the three, followed by leopards, with cheetahs being the smallest. The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large predatory feline, the largest native cat in the Americas and the third largest in the world, surpassed only by tigers and lions.
They are characterized by their distinctive yellow-orange fur with black rosettes, which are spots shaped like roses with a dot in the centre. Some jaguars, known as “black panthers”, are melanocytic, meaning they have a surplus of dark pigmentation causing a black coat, though their spots may still be visible under certain light.
How to differentiate Cheetah, Jaguar and Leopard from their coat patterns?
Cheetah has solid, round black spots on a golden coat, and distinctive black tear marks extending from the eyes down the sides of the nose, while leopard has smaller, closely spaced rosettes (circular spots) without central dots. A Jaguar has larger rosettes with a central black spot inside each rosette.
How they look like?
Cheetah
The body of a Cheetah is slender and built for speed. It has a smaller head. Cheetahs have a slender, athletic build perfectly adapted for speed. Their body length typically ranges from 112 to 150 cm (3.93-4.92 ft.), with a tail adding another 60 to 80 cm (2-2.62 ft.). Shoulder height is between 67 to 94 cm (2.2-3.1 ft.). Adults weigh between 21 and 72 kg (46-158 lb.), with males generally being larger than females.
Leopard
The body of a Leopard is sturdier than cheetahs, with strong muscles. Leopards have a slender, muscular build with a pale yellowish to dark golden coat adorned with dark spots arranged in rosettes. They are smaller than lions, tigers, and jaguars. Males typically weigh between 30.9 and 72 kg (68–159 lb), while females weigh 20.5 to 43 kg (45–95 lb). Their body length, including the tail, ranges from 158 to 274 cm (62 to 108 inches).
Jaguar
The Jaguar is the largest of the three, with a powerful build and stocky body. Jaguars are known for their robust and muscular build, making them the largest cat in the Americas and the third largest in the world. They are characterized by a relatively short tail, powerful legs, and a broad head with a strong jaw. Male jaguars are typically larger than females, and their size can vary based on geographic location, with those in the south being generally larger than those in the north.
How Cheetahs hunt?
The Cheetah is mostly active during the day and known for their incredible speed, using their semi-retractable claws for traction during high-speed chases. Cheetahs primarily hunt by utilising a combination of stalking and high-speed pursuit. They rely on stealth to get close to their prey, often using bushes and tall grass as cover, before launching a chase. Their incredible speed allows them to quickly close the distance and knock their prey to the ground, typically using a dewclaw on their foreleg. A suffocation bite to the throat then finishes the job.
How Leopards hunt?
The Leopard is highly adaptable, known for their ability to climb trees and haul their prey up with them. Leopards are known for their stealth and agility, employing a variety of hunting techniques that rely on camouflage, patience, and calculated movements. They are opportunistic hunters, often using trees as vantage points and stalking their prey before launching a surprise attack.
How Jaguars hunt?
The Jaguar is known for its powerful jaws and ability to crush bone. Jaguars are skilled ambush hunters, relying on stealth and a powerful bite to take down their prey. They are known for their ability to hunt both on land and in the water, taking down a wide variety of animals.
Jaguars are excellent swimmers, using their strong limbs and sleek bodies to propel themselves through the water. They can swim long distances, even crossing rivers and other waterways, and often use swimming as a hunting strategy. They are known to ambush prey from the water and can also dive to hunt fish and other aquatic animals.
Where are they found?
Cheetahs are primarily found in eastern and southern Africa, with a small population of critically endangered Asiatic cheetahs in Iran. They inhabit a variety of landscapes including savannas, grasslands, deserts, and mountainous regions.
