User:Leo1pard/Spotted big cat

Spotted big cat

The term spotted big cat may refer to any big cat that has spots: the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), jaguar (Panthera onca), leopard (Panthera pardus), snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). Due to their physical similarities, they could get mistaken for one another, and so comparisons between them have been made.

Genetics


The cheetah is a member of the genus Acinonyx, within the tribe Acinonychini of the subfamily Felinae. By contrast, the leopard and jaguar are members of the genus Panthera in the subfamily Pantherinae, and together, they appear to be the closest living relatives of the lion (Panthera leo). Though the leopard is sympatric with the lion in both Africa and Asia, it is not clear whether this or the jaguar  is closer to the lion, with different analyses giving different results. In addition, as of 2017, whereas the jaguar is regarded as a monotypic species, the cheetah and leopard are recognised as being divided into different subspecies.

Habitat and distribution
The cheetah and leopard inhabit the Old World, and are often sympatric, whereas the jaguar inhabits the New World. Cheetahs are found throughout Africa, with a small population in the Asian country of Iran. Leopards are found throughout Africa and Asia, including the Sunda island of Java, and European Russia.

Physique
Generally, the cheetah has a lean body structure which helps it run fast, whereas the leopard and jaguar have more robust physiques, with the latter generally being bigger and stronger than the former. In addition, whereas the cheetah has spots, the leopard and jaguar have rosettes. Compared to the leopard's rosettes, the jaguar's rosettes are usually bigger, and would have spots within them.

Vocalisation
Due to the structure of their larynxes, leopards and jaguars have the ability to roar, and are thus classified as "roaring cats", unlike cheetahs.

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Jaguar versus leopard

 * Compare Leopard vs Jaguar
 * Can You Spot the Difference Between a Jaguar and a Leopard?
 * Jaguar vs Leopard | ANIMAL BATTLE (+Lion vs Tiger winner)

Cheetah versus leopard

 * Cheetah vs. Leopard
 * Cheetah vs. Leopard: What's the Difference?
 * Cheetah Vs. Leopard - Know the Differences and Similarities
 * The Difference Between a Leopard and a Cheetah
 * Cheetah vs. Leopard: Do You Know the Difference?
 * Cheetah, Gepard and (or?) Leopard
 * Leopard vs Cheetah
 * Leopard Kills a Cheetah | Tiger vs Tiger
 * When a leopard comes across some cheetah brothers