Major Differences Between Cheetah Leopard and Jaguar

Big Cats are the members of Felidae family and four of them are the only animals that are able to roar. Six big cats species found in world are Tigers, Lions, Jaguars,Leopards,Cheetah and Cougar. Mostly one could easily make the mistake of confusing between Leopard and Jaguar, Here are the major differences between Cheetah, Leopard and Jaguar.

Jaguar (Panthera Onca)

The Jaguar is the third largest feline in the world and also the largest big cat in the Americas. Jaguars are usually larger than Leopard and live in scrublands,rainforest and open terrains, Amazon river basin of South America is the best place to spot Jaguar in the wild.

Family: Felidae
Size: Third Largest Cat
Hunting: Around Dawn and Dusk
Color: Tawny Yellow with Dark Black Spots
Prey Upon: Capybara, Caiman, Monkey,Turtle and Deer
Characterised: Compact and Well Muscled
Distribution: The Americas

Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus)

Cheetah is the member of Felidae family and the fasted land animal in world,mainly occurs in Africa and only few parts of Iran. Cheetah extinction from India but an artificial reintroduction of the cheetah project is going on in India at Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary.

Speed: Averages 64 km/h
Family: Felidae
Color: Yellowish with Black Spots
Size: Taller Than Leopard
Hunting: During the Day
Prey Upon: Antelopes and Gazelles
Habitat: Dry Forests and Savannah
Distribution: Africa and Iran
Characterised: Slender Body with Small Head and Tear Like Streaks

Leopard (Panthera Pardus)

The Leopard is one of the five big cat found in the world and has best camouflaged and adaptations skill. Leopards are similar in appearance to the Jaguar but smaller in physique and an opportunistic hunter.

Family: Felidae
Social: Solitary and Territorial
Size: Smaller Than Jaguar
Color: Yellowish with Larger Spot in Rosettes
Hunting: Mainly at Night
Subspecies of Leopard: 9 Subspecies
Prey Upon: Deer, Chital,Primates and Wild boar
Habitat: Grasslands,Woodland and Urban Areas
Distribution: Indian Subcontinent,Africa,Asia and China
Characterised: Robust and Muscular
Largest Leopard: Persian Leopard

Black Panther: Black Panther is the melanistic color variant of Jaguar and Leopard panthera species, mostly found in in the Americas,Java and India. Black panthers in India and Africa are black leopards and in the Americas its jaguar with beautiful black color.
Cougar: Cougar also called as the mountain lion or Puma, is the second heaviest cat in the New World found in the Americas.
King Cheetah: King Cheetah is a Cheetah with a rare mutation with three dark wide stripes.
Snow Leopard: Snow Leopard is a large cat, inhabit alpine and high altitudes of the Himalayas,Khangai and Altai Mountains.
Clouded Leopard: Clouded Leopard is a medium sized wild cat and best tree climbers among the cats, found at the foothills the Himalayas.