The main difference between jaguar and leopard is that jaguar is more muscular and stockier with a broader head, stronger jaws and a compact body, while leopard has longer and a more delicate body.
Jaguars and leopards are two big spotted cats with quite a similar appearance. If you are not a fan of the Cat family, you might find it extremely difficult to distinguish between jaguars and leopards. However, if you are in the wild and if you spot one of these spotted cats, you won’t mistake one for another because these two cats inhabit different geographical locations.
Key Areas Covered
1. Jaguar
– Appearance, Facts, Characteristics, and Behavior
2. Leopard
– Appearance, Facts, Characteristics, and Behavior
3. Similarities Between Jaguar and Leopard
– Outline of Common Characteristics
4. Difference Between Jaguar and Leopard
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Cats, Jaguar, Leopard
Jaguar – Appearance, Facts, Characteristics, and Behavior
Jaguar is the third-largest cat that belongs to the cat family. Jaguars are at the top of the cat family in terms of their strength. They are exceptionally strong with their capacity to deliver up to 2000 pounds of force. Jaguars are stronger than lions and tigers. Moreover, jaguars differ from leopards in relation to the rosettes on their skin. Jaguars usually have rosettes with central spots, but leopards have only plain rosettes without any central spots. Furthermore, rosettes of the jaguars and relatively larger than those of the leopards.
Jaguars have the strongest bite relative to their body size compared to other wild cats such as tigers, lions, and leopards. Jaguars usually use their strong jaws to smash the skull of the killed animals. For instance, you might have heard of jaguars who hunt caimans in the Pantanal by smashing the reptile’s skull.
However, in the wild, the life span of a jaguar is expected to be around 13 years, and if you are looking at the rain forests in Latin America, the only big spotted cat you may spot is the jaguar.
Leopard – Appearance, Facts, Characteristics, and Behavior
Leopard is the fourth largest spotted cat in the cat family. If you come across a spotted cat in Asia, Africa, Russia or the Middle East, it will most probably be a leopard. In comparison to jaguars, leopards are slender and more delicate in their built. Their longer bodies give them a lighter appearance. Even though leopards have a delicate built, they are equally capable of dragging large carcasses up huge trees. Unlike jaguars who crush the prey with their jaws, leopards usually kill their prey by biting the throat and suffocating the prey to death.
Leopards naturally have longer tails compared to jaguars. This tail helps the leopard to maintain balance when climbing trees. Jaguars, on the other hand, are also good climbers; however, their shorter tails suggest that they do not out-skill leopards in keeping their balance on the trees.
Similarities Between Jaguar and Leopard
- Both Jaguar and Leopard are members of the cat family and are mammals.
- They both are predators and are carnivores.
- Both jaguars and leopards are good tree climbers.
Difference Between Jaguar and Leopard
Definition
Jaguar is the third strongest member of the cat family, whereas leopard is the fourth-strongest member in the cat family.
Habitat
Jaguars mostly inhabit the rain forests in Latin America, while leopards live in Asia, Africa, Russia or the Middle East.
Body Shape
Moreover, jaguars are more muscular and stockier than leopards. Jaguars have a shorter body and a broader chest, whereas the body of leopards is longer and more delicate than that of jaguars.
Head
In addition, jaguars usually have larger and round heads compared to smaller and angular heads of leopards.
Tail
Leopards naturally have longer tails compared to jaguars. This long tail helps leopards to maintain their balance when climbing trees.
Rosettes
Jaguars usually have rosettes with central spots, but leopards have only plain rosettes without any central spots. Furthermore, rosettes of the jaguars and relatively larger than those of the leopards
Hunting Method
Unlike jaguars, who usually crush the prey with their jaws, leopards usually kill their prey by biting the throat and suffocating the prey to death.
Conclusion
The main difference between jaguar and leopard is that jaguars are more muscular and stockier while leopards have slender and more delicate bodies. Though both jaguars and leopards are excellent hunters, when it comes to the cat family and the strength pyramid, jaguars out skill leopards with their hunting techniques.
Reference:
1. “Jaguar, Facts and Photos.” National Geographic.
2. “Leopard.” National Geographic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Standing jaguar” By USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Digital Library System (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Nagarhole Kabini Karnataka India, Leopard September 2013” By Srikaanth Sekar – Flickr: Leopard (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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