As the cheetah is being re-introduced to India from Africa, here’s a crash course on all the seven big cats. The big cats are classified under three genera—Acinonyx, Puma, and Panthera.
Cheetah, a member of genera Acinonyx
The cheetah or Acinonyx jubatus is the fastest mammal on land. Additionally, it’s unlike other cats, as it does not have retractable claws. However, this feature is an evolutionary result and gives them a better grip. A Cheetah can accelerate from zero to 100 kmph in just three seconds, faster than any sports car. They weigh between 20 to 70 kg and are not aggressive towards humans. However, they do not breed well in captivity as the females pay hard to get and are picky. They are classified as vulnerable species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Genera Puma
Pumas are closely related to domestic cats. However today the cougar (Puma concolor) is the only remaining member of the species. They are the second largest big cat in the US, with the jaguar being the largest. From the Canadian Yukon to the Andes down south, it is also known as ‘panther’ and ‘mountain lion’. They are larger than the cheetah and weigh between 40 to 100 kg.
Leopards, Jaguar, Lion and Tiger belong to the Panthera genus
Leopard and Jaguar may have spots similar to the cheetah but, they are very different. Leopard (Panthera Pardus) has a rosette patterned coat. They are the most adaptable and occupy different habitats across different altitudes of Africa and Asia. Due to its “grace of movement and beauty of coloring,” Jim Corbett called it the “most beautiful of all animals”.
The snow leopard (Panthera Uncia) is elusive and blends with the snowy regions in central and southern Asia. It cannot roar and has the longest tail among big cats which helps them balance and hunt on slippery slowly cliffs. Additionally, it offers warmth when wrapped around its body. Both the leopard and snow leopard are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.
Jaguar (Panthera Onca), is the largest cat in the Americas. In both Aztec and Mayan civilizations, the jaguar is revered as a powerful motif. It has the strongest bite force among wild cats, making it possible to bite through the skull of its prey.
The Lion (Panthera leo) is native to Asia and Africa. It is the most social and lives in “prides”. They prefer scrublands and open regions. Adult males feature a prominent mane. As per the IUCN red list, it is classified as vulnerable. Contrary to the lion, the tiger (Panthera tigris) is solitary. it is also territorial and one of the earliest Panthera members to exist. It has a wide range from the Siberian taiga to the Sundarban delta in India. It is one of the world’s favorite animals and is the national animal of India, South Korea, Malaysia, and Bangladesh.
