Difference Between Leopard and Jaguar

Leopard

The most common area where leopard is found is mainly sub-saharan Africa that is mainly occupied parts of north and northeast. By the 2019 species had lost up to 75 percent of their current living range. Leopards are graceful and powerful big cats closely related to lions, tigers, and jaguars. They differ greatly in size and markings. The average size is 50 to 90 kg  in weight, 210 cm, excluding the 90-cm tail in length. The leopard grows with much larger speed than others. The ground colour is mainly yellowish above and white below. Dark spots are present which are generally arranged in rosettes over much of the body,  the ground colour within the rosettes is sometimes a darker yellow, and the size and spacing of the spots vary greatly. 

How Breeding is Done in Leopard

There is no such time interval for breeding female leopards that can give birth at any time of the year. The female produces two to four, cubs after a gestation period of about three months. Mother used to hide their cubs and keep them to safe locations with barely visible spots. Mothers save their cubs and keep moving them till they are old enough to begin playing and learning to hunt. Cubs live under the shade of their mother till they are about two years old.

External Feature of Leopard

Majority of leopards are light colored with distinctive dark spots that are called rosettes, as they resemble the shape of a rose. Black leopards which are mainly solid in color because their patterns are difficult to distinguish and they are commonly called as black panthers.

Living Habitat of Leopard

The leopard is a type of solitary animal who mainly lives in bush and forest, they are mainly nocturnal in nature but sometimes they roam in the sun also. They feed mainly on animals including small rodents to human beings. But maximum time they prey on smaller animals like deer, antelopes.

Jaguar

Scientific name of jaguar is Panthera onca. They are also known as tigre americano. They belong to the cat family i.e Felidae family. Their  largest known population lives in the Amazon rainforest. The jaguar resembles the leopard of Africa and Asia, but the leopard lacks the black centre spot which is present in jaguar. Jaguar’s back is a row of long black spots that may merge into a stripe. The base colour of the jaguar differs mainly from white to black. Although brown and black color jaguars appear to be solid-coloured, spots are always clearly visible.

How Breeding is Done in Jaguar

After mating, gestation occurs in 90 to 110 days then females look for a den where they give birth to two to three cubs, these cubs weigh between 600 to 900 grams and they keep their eyes closed for two weeks. They have darker spots and sometimes they are confusing also. Mother deals with aging and becomes more aggressive while defending their cubs.

During the first few days she is not very far from their children and her main responsibility is to make them safe. She transports them with her mouth to another hiding place. During this period the female restricts her movement area and its territory shrinks, for the safety of their cubs. Finally, when they are up to two-year-old the mother abandons them, now, they have to begin an independent life and must find and gain their own power and freedom. This is a very dangerous moment, because they must walk to other areas and in that trip, they can meet other jaguars and also, hunters.

Difference Between Leopard and Jaguar

Similarities Between Leopard And Jaguar

1. Both have a tendency to swim in water but jaguars love to spend time in water.

2. Both have body coats along with rosettes on their body surface.

3. They belong to the same family i.e Felidae.

Important Term on Leopards And Jaguars

1. Melanistic: Jaguars and leopards can have either golden colored fur or appear black, which is called melanistic.

2. Jaguar is the third largest cat in the world.