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Jaguar Coat
Leopard Coat
Independence
Jaguars, in the Pantanal at least, go independent at a very young age. From data we, at Projeto
Onafari, have started to collect, we believe that female jaguars leave mom at around 14-15
months. A female leopard may reach anything between 18-24 months before leaving. A male
jaguar starts to show signs of heading off around 18 20 months and its leopard counterpart may
think about it at closer to 24 months. Thus the jaguar grows up very quickly.
Sexual Maturity
With jaguars sexual maturity occurs in females around 2 to 3 years; males mature between 3 and
4 years. Leopards develop slightly later then this. Most female leopards fall pregnant for the first
time at around 3,5 years.
Life expectancy
Leopards: 12- 15 in the wild, although there are a number of cases of females reaching over 17.
Jaguars: uncertain in the wild, but thought to be around 13- 15
Strength
The jaguar steals the show here. Pound for pound this cat is phenomenally strong. With the
ability to deliver up to 2000 pounds of force, this makes jaguars the most powerful of the great
cats even more so than lions and tigers.
List of top 10 most powerful bites in the animal kingdom:
10. lion
9. tiger
8. spotted hyena
7. grizzly bear
6. gorilla
5. hippopotamus
4. jaguar (most powerful mammal)
3. american alligator
2. saltwater crocodile
1. nile crocodile
The Head
The shape and size of the head is very different between the two cats. Due to the different styles
of killing (see below) the jaguar has a much broader forehead and wider jaw.
Female Jaguar
Female Leopard
Male Jaguar
The Body
Jaguars have a large barrel like abdomen. It almost always looks as if they are pregnant or well
fed. Leopards, on the other hand, often have a very slight build. Jaguars have a shorter, stockier,
build then the leopard.
Drinking leopard
Drinking jaguar
Territories
This is one of the least known aspects of a jaguars lifestyle. There is quite a difference with
regards to territory. Leopards are very territorial and will actively patrol, demarcate and fight for
land. They will not permit other leopards moving into their area. Jaguars are less territorial and
utilize more of a relaxed home-range. There is large overlap between jaguars home ranges and
these are not nearly as actively managed and patrolled. Recent studies from Brazil have shown
male jaguars to not show strong aggression or territorial defense against other jaguars. A jaguar
will have a core area in which he/she may be the only cat, but this area is small relative to the
land used by that individual.
In the Pantanal a male jaguar may use as much as 170km2 and a female closer on 70km2. Male
leopards at Londolozi Game Reserve (Kruger National Park) could have a territory of roughly
40km2 and a female of approximately 15km2. Although there can be huge variation in these
numbers, the averages serve the purpose of illustrating how Jaguars utilize an incredibly large
area.
Killing Style
Leopards kill using a suffocating bite. This bite will usually be around the throat, or may in fact
be around the mouth. The jaguar prefers to use one of two methods: 1) killing by canines
piercing through preys skull (only large cat to use this technique) and 2) By severing the spinal
column/backbone with a powerful bite and breaking the neck. Both species of cat prefer to hunt
by stalking and ambush rather then lengthy chases.
Diet
Leopards are the cat with the most varied diet. They eat just about anything. The current dietary
list for a leopard sits at just under 100 species. Jaguars are not far behind on 85. Both these cats
show signs that they are able to adapt to feeding on whatever is in the area. In the Pantanal
jaguars eat a large number of big animals like cattle. It is said that the jaguar is the only Big Cat,
which shows particular liking to reptiles (turtles, tortoises, caimans and snakes).
Moving Kills
Both species show a tendency to move a kill once it has been made. However, due to the nature
of the prey, a jaguar will usually drag its prize whilst walking backwards. A leopard, on the other
hand, will pull it forwards. Jaguars do not attempt to hide their kills using leaves or sand, a
practice often seen with leopards.
These are just some of the differences between the two cats. I trust you learnt something
interesting