[Animals] What is the difference between "jaguar", "leopard" and "cheetah"?

[#Wittels-]

The group of felids, known as felines, is a family belonging to placental mammals (presence of placenta), of the order Carnivora.

Felines are one of the most representative groups of the animal kingdom, being a fundamental factor within the food chain, being considered as primary terrestrial predators.

Among the main characteristics that distinguish this family is that they are fast, agile animals, record great distances, are capable of climbing trees, as well as climbing rocky areas with ease.

According to what was described by the UNAM, «The claws are hands or feet provided with curved, strong and sharp nails. Cats have retractable nails, this means that they can be removed and stored at will. They use them to mark their territory, to climb trees and also to hold their prey when hunting. This ability to retract their claws and the pads on their feet also helps them to be stealthy."

 

Another characteristic that distinguishes them is the presence of triangular ears with semi-round tips, large eyes and a short face.

Its dental formula is exclusive to felines. They have in the upper jaw 6 incisors, 2 canines, 6 premolars and 2 molars; in the lower jaw it has 6 incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars and 2 molars.

The cats are carnivorous animals, the vast majority of the species are solitary, looking for their equals only for reproduction, where the females are in charge of the young during the first 2 years of their lives.

Currently, the group of cats is one of the most threatened, with endangered species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, mainly due to the loss of their natural habitat and their illegal hunting. looking for his fur.

Within the representatives of the felid family, there are organisms that resemble each other, even though they are different species. This confusion is due to the similarity of their fur, being the jaguar, the leopard and the cheetah, the animals that are hardest not to confuse.

What is the difference between the jaguar, the leopard and the cheetah?

 

According to biologist Nick A. Romero, "Sizes among these three animals vary, with the jaguar being the largest animal of the three, reaching 180 centimeters and an average height of 75 cm."

The Panthera onca (jaguar) is an animal that is most active during sunset and sunrise, however, it can be seen throughout the day.

On the other hand, the Panthera pardus (leopard) has shorter legs than the other two species, a characteristic that gives it an advantage when climbing or climbing. This species is nocturnal, so it prefers to have its activities at night.

While, the Acinonyx jubatus (cheetah or cheetah, as it is also known), is the one that has the longest legs of the three, but its head is smaller and rounded.

The main difference that distinguishes cheetahs from leopards or jaguars is the presence of a black line that runs down their face and even reaches to draw the outline of their eyes. This animal is also considered one of the fastest, reaching 103 kilometers per hour when running.

 

Link: https://ensedeciencia.com/2023/04/13/cual-es-la-diferencia-entre-jaguar-leopardo-y-guepardo-2/