These are very similar cats and are closely related. And both do come in black forms. And no they are not the same cat either. I already know the answer, but do you?
2006-08-10 10:57:50 · 11 answers · asked by megatron 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Those who have said that the jaguar is always black are wrong... melanistic forms exist of both leopards and jaguars, and both are referred to as "black panthers". Interestingly, in the jaguar, melanism is controlled by a dominant allele; in the leopard, it is a recessive allele; however, still, the spotted forms are more common even in jaguars. (Note: Upon close inspection of a melanistic jaguar or leopard, spots can still be distinguished even on the dark coat.)
Here are some of the most obvious differences between the animals:
- Jaguars live in Central and South America; leopards in Africa and Asia. The two species' areas do not overlap.
- Jaguars are stockier, with shorter legs and larger bodies. They have more power, but less mobility and speed.
- The rosettes on a jaguar's coat are larger and hollow.
- The leopard hunts in a more typical feline way, by chasing down its prey and killing by biting the jugular. The jaguar usually prowls or climbs trees to ambush prey, and kills either by crushing the skull or shell of its prey in its ultra-powerful jaws or (for larger prey) by biting the back of the next to sever the spinal cord.
Hope this helps you,
2006-08-10 14:53:41 · answer #1 · answered by D. Z. McRoy 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One way to tell is where you are. If you're in a South American jungle and you see a big spotted cat, it's a jaguar. If you are in Africa or Asia and see a big spotted cat it is a leopard. Another way is the body shape. The Jaguar is short and stocky, the leopard being a little longer, but both are very strong. The jaguar is pound for pound the strongest big cat in the world, the leopard second. The spots are different also, the jaguar has bigger rosettes that are empty and surround smaller spots, whereas the leopards spots are generally smaller and they have more of them.
2006-08-10 18:17:57 · answer #2 · answered by royal_fryer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The jaguar lives in central and south America, it has large rosettes on the side and back and some of the rosettes have spots in them. A full grown male jaguar can weigh up to 300 pounds. Leopards have smaller rosettes with no spot in the middle. Full grown leopards can weigh up to 120 pounds and live in Africa and Asia.
2006-08-10 23:23:46 · answer #3 · answered by eva diane 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, both come in black, you can have a black leopard and a black jaguar. They are found in different parts of the world, the jaguar is found in S. America and the leopard is found in Africa and Asia. Jaguars are bigger and stockier than leopards.
2006-08-10 22:04:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jaguar: New World cat (North, South, Central America). Not so common in North America any more though!
Leopard: Africa.
2006-08-10 18:08:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jaguar comes with a V8 and a leopard lives in Africa.
2006-08-10 18:02:30 · answer #6 · answered by jesusdrivesadomestic 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
jaguar is thought to be black and leopard has spots.
2006-08-10 19:42:33 · answer #7 · answered by duc602 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
jaguars are marvelous cats and leopards are wonderful cats
2006-08-10 20:46:45 · answer #8 · answered by happy little girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep jaguar is pure black leopard is spotted
2006-08-10 20:18:02 · answer #9 · answered by ken o 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
leopard has spots
2006-08-10 18:03:10 · answer #10 · answered by jsbrads 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋