What is the Difference Between Leopard vs Jaguar?

We all grew up visiting zoos in our childhood vacations. Well, as a child and young it often seems challenging to differentiate the members of the cat family, especially Leopard vs Jaguar. It is surprising to discover that their basic difference lies in signature body spots and hunting techniques. Exploring other meticulous differences like body size, habitat, range and shape would help you to appreciate the versatility of wildlife. Keep reading to cherish your knowledge with intriguing facts.

Classification

Both Leopard vs Jaguar are members of the Panthera genus. They belong to the big cat family. The jaguar (Panthera onca) comprises only one unique species. However, the Previous studies in the 1700s classified almost nine species.

The traditional classification consisted of multiple species named as Arizona Jaguar (Panthera onca arizonensis), the Central American jaguar (P.o.goldmani), the West Mexican Jaguar (P.o.hernandessi), the East Brazilian Jaguar (P.o. palustris), The Paraguay Jaguar (P.o.paraguensis), the Peruvian Jaguar (P.o. paragenesis), the South American jaguar (P.o.palustris), and the northeastern jaguar (P.o. veraecrucis). Later in 2017, biologists modified the classification and amended it to single monotype species with no further sub-division. This modern classification is prevalent to date.

On the other hand, leopard (Panthera pardus) is presently classified under nine subspecies. They are the Indochinese Leopard (P.p.delacouri), the African leopard (P.p.pardus), the Arabian leopard (P.p.nimr), the Persian leopard

(P.p.saxicolour), the Indian leopard (P.p.fusca), Sri Lanka Leopard (P.p.Kotiya), the Amur leopard (P.p.Orientalis), the Javan leopard (P.p.melas), and the North Chinese leopard (P.p.japonensis).

What About Snow Leopards and Black Panthers?

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is well-habituated in the central and south Asia mountains. They are categorized under separate species with characteristics and physical features. They have thick, grey fur with light yellow colour.

The word “Black Panther” is used interchangeably for dark-coloured jaguar and leopard. This colouring is known as melanism. The spots on these black cats could be noticed in sufficient light.

Characteristics

Jaguars and Leopards are well known for their ambush-predating competencies. They possess strong jaws with a spotted layer all over the body. With a weight ranging between 80 to 350 pounds, jaguars are heavier and larger than leopards. On the contrary, the smaller leopards weigh about 37 to 97 pounds. Jaguars are native to Central and South America and leopards are observed to dwell in Africa and Asia.

It is obvious that with differences in localities and physical build, they both tend to be poles apart in hunting techniques. Leopards possess slender bodies built with long tails. This tail provides them with a balance to climb the trees. Trees are their chief source of prey. Jaguars, on the contrary, unleash their meals in more denser and wetter areas. Rainforests and wetlands come under their predating location. Despite their agility, they extract the benefits of their swimming skills, blocky heads and powerful jaws to smash their prey.

The spots of these two could be assumed similar from a distance but they tend to be slightly distinct. Both the animals are observed to exhibit rosette pattern spots. However, the leopard has more bold and blocky ones. On the contrary, jaguars have smaller dots covered by rosette pattern.

Key differences between Leopard and Jaguar

1. Geographical Range

• One of the major differences between leopards and jaguars is their devilling place. Their habitats are poles apart and so are their habits. Jaguars mostly reside in Central and South America. The Amazon Rainforest is also widely known for its home. This wildlife loves dense and humid jungles.
• Whereas, leopards have Africa, Middle East China and even India as their local habitats. They are also native animals of eastern and southern Africa. Leopards are more partial to the grassy savannah of Africa.
• Earlier both the big cats used to wander around more geographical areas. With widespread infrastructural developments, they are now confined to specific regions.

2. Body Shape and Size

• Leopard and Jaguar, are big, bulky members of the cat family. Among them, jaguars are mostly heavier. However, jaguars have stronger bodies than leopards. Jaguars possess a compact body shape whereas leopards have a leaner and elongated one. An adult Jaguar can be as heavy as 120 kg and a full-grown leopard could contain a body weight of approximately 88 kg. They both are heightened to the same extent.
• Wildlifes display sexual dimorphism that is females tend to be small as compared to males. A lady leopard is known to be 10 per cent lighter than a male. On the other hand, female jaguars are around 30 per cent lighter than males.

3. Tail difference

Tail recognition is another trait that can differentiate between leopard and Jaguar. Leopards contain longer, thinner and an attractive tail. Jaguars pose shorter tail that balances their body proportion. Leopards are noticed to spend much time on trees and hence have a characteristic longer tail.

4. Head and Teeth

• One can appreciate the difference in physical appearance by looking at the head and teeth. Leopards have compact and narrow-gauged heads. They have much more defined cheekbones when compared to Jaguars.
• Whereas Jaguars have a rounded and bigger head. Their broad jaw and forehead sets them apart from leopards. These provide them the power to bite with immense force. When studied about teeth patterns, leopards were discovered to have sharper canine teeth. Along with sharpness, they are deeply embedded in the jaw to assist the tearing of flash.
• Jaguars contain larger teeth compared to leopards. These strong teeth can exert extra force and pressure.

5. Spots

• The big cats have a double-coloured body with a golden base and black markings. They both contain spots of distinct patterns. 
• Leopards exhibit solid, black spots that are clubbed with each other. Jaguars have a unique arrangement of spots with black rings filled with smaller dots. The patterns are present all over the body surface.

6. Diet and Distinct Habits

• Jaguars and leopards live in different geographical regions and hence occupy, unlike levels in the food chain. For this reason, they both have varied diets.
• Jaguars favour eating reptiles. Besides this caiman, turtles, fishes, large mammals, snakes and birds are known to be their potential prey.
• Leopards mostly keep their eyes on birds, gazelle, fish, antelope and all varieties of lizards. They are tree cats and thus avoid larger prey. Leopards can easily enjoy their small feasts up on the trees.
• When discussing about their abilities, both are champions at swimming. However, leopards deny it until an alarming situation. On the contrary, Jaguars keep exploring water bodies to fulfil their appetite.

7. Social Behaviour

Both wild animals are fierce solitary species. If appeared in the group, they might be mother and cubs. Sometimes a breeding pair or a group of members sharing a meal are noticed.

8. Caring for Young

• Both jaguar and leopard mothers nurture their young ones until they become independent. The age of surviving on their own differs in two species.
• Leopard are dependent on their mother for the first 18-24 months. On the other hand, jaguars detach from their parents at a younger age. This age is of 14-15 months for females. Male jaguars spend around 18-20 months with their mothers.

Similarities Between Jaguars and Leopards

After having discussed the difference between leopards and jaguars, let’s curate the similarities. Well, it is very easy to recollect their resemblance when compared to differences.

• Both the animals have a golden-coloured body with prominent black patches.
• Both of them belong to the Panthera Felidae Family. They, when grouped with the lion and tiger from the four big cats.
• Both of them can swim and climb the trees.
• They both are far away from the threat of extinction.
• Despite their different habitats and food chains, they both suffer similar conservation problems.
• Snow leopards are not classified under leopards. They are separate species.

Conservation status

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have stated Jaguar as Near Threatened. Professionals advocate the overall population to be decreasing. Between 1996 to 2017, habitat distribution and human conflict led to the massive demise of the jaguar. The global descent in the population was around 20%-25%. The rocketing rates of deforestation in Central and South America are snitching the jaguars’ shelter. They are now compromising with 49% less of their previous native place.

The scenario with leopards is no different. They have been titled as vulnerable by the IUCN. They were earlier classified as Near Threatened. Habitat fragmentation, the illegal wildlife trade, prey declines and human persecution have fueled the decreasing population. Among the total leopard subcategories, the Amur leopard is highly endangered. It is very disheartening to know that only less than 60 Amur leopards are surviving presently.

The Arabian leopard residing in the Arabian Peninsula is a Critically Endangered wildlife. The case is the same with the Javan leopard dwelling on the Indonesian island of Java. Furthermore, the Persian Leopard and the Sri Lankan Leopard are also stated as Critically Endangered.

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