Big cats are the largest members of the feline family. And yet the main criterion for belonging to a big cat is not size, but structure.

So, big cats include lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard, but not species such as cougar and cheetah.

Let's take a closer look at these most beautiful and graceful predators in the wild.
a lion

A lion. King of beasts. One of four representatives of the genus Panther, belonging to the subfamily of big cats. It is the second largest cat after the tiger - the weight of males can reach 250 kg. But in terms of height in the shoulders, the lion is the record holder among all felines.

This species originally evolved in Africa about 800,000 - 1 million years ago.

The appearance of a lion is very characteristic: males are much larger than females and have a luxurious mane up to 40 cm long. None of the cats have anything like this. The mane visually enlarges the lion in size, and also helps to intimidate other males and attract females who prefer "men" with more luxurious hair.


Both the lion and the lioness have a fluffy tuft at the end of the tail - a "tassel" about 5 cm long. At birth, it is absent and begins to appear at about 5 months of age.


The color of the lion is usually yellow-gray in various shades, the mane is the same color as the skin, but sometimes it is dark, even black.


At the end of the 20th century, there was evidence of the existence of white lions. Prior to that, for hundreds of years, they were considered the product of legends that roamed South Africa:


These are very rare cats:


Lions are super predators, i.e. occupy the top position in the food chain. However, in addition to humans, there is another predatory animal that can pose a threat to the lion - this is a crocodile. In a collision, these two species are capable of inflicting very serious injuries on each other. Lions are capable of attacking crocodiles when they get out on land, while the oldest reptiles attack lions when they enter the water.


Unlike other felines, they do not live alone, but in special family flocks - prides. Hunting and foraging are usually done by females, who act in groups. Males are engaged in the protection of the territory, expelling uninvited guests from them. Another reason why males do not hunt is the mane, which can interfere with camouflage. The lion's fangs are 8 cm long, so these cats are able to kill large enough animals. Despite the fact that lionesses have very sharp teeth, prey in most cases is killed by strangulation.


In nature, lions live from 10 to 15 years, in captivity they can live for more than 20 years. True, males rarely live more than 10 years, since constant fights with other lions significantly reduce their life expectancy.


Unfortunately, these big cats are a vulnerable species due to the irreversible decline in their population. Over the past 20 years, the number of lions in Africa has declined by 35-50%.


Jaguar

It is the third largest cat in the world and the largest cat in the New World. One of four members of the panther genus. Body length without tail is usually 120-185 cm, and weight in some cases up to 120 kg. The record in nature is 158 kg. In Guarani language, yaguara meant "beast that kills in one jump."


The oldest remains of a jaguar date back to the late Pliocene (about 2 million years). By morphological features, the jaguar is most closely related to the leopard, very similar to it, but larger and heavier.


The main body color of the jaguar is closer to sand. On the body are scattered spots that are darker than the general background of the body: solid, rings and rosettes. There are also completely black jaguars that look like panthers:


Unlike lions, jaguars have a solitary lifestyle. Like all cats, jaguars are territorial predators; the hunting area of ​​one jaguar occupies 25-100 square kilometers, depending on the landscape and the amount of prey, and is, as a rule, a triangle.


The jaguar is a crepuscular predator. He hunts after sunset and before dawn. The main prey of the jaguar are capybaras and ungulates like deer, bakers, although it also hunts on turtles: its powerful jaws can even bite through the shell. When attacking, this cat tries to injure the victim with the strongest blow at the moment of falling. This is a one-throw hunter: if the prey takes off, the jaguar never pursues it.


The main method of hunting a jaguar is to ambush a tree or in tall grass. Also, prey will not be able to escape in water - jaguars swim well.


In a significant part of its former range, this species has been almost or completely exterminated. The jaguar is included in the international Red Book.


Snow Leopard

Irbis, or snow leopard, lives in the mountain ranges of Central Asia. It is a rather large cat, but smaller than a leopard, with a long, lithe body, relatively short legs and a very long tail. Length with tail - 200-230 cm, weight - up to 55 kg. Recent research suggests that snow leopards were likely to be present between 1.2 and 1.4 million years ago.


The color of the snow leopard's fur is light smoky gray with annular and solid dark spots. Since the snow leopard is an inhabitant of the high rocky mountains of Central and Central Asia, its coat is very thick, its length on the back reaches 55 mm - it provides protection from the cold, harsh environmental conditions. So, in the Himalayas, the snow leopard was met at an altitude of 5400-6000 meters above sea level.


Snow leopards are solitary. In an area with a low amount of prey, with an area of ​​1000 sq. Km, only up to 5 cats can live. The snow leopard arranges a den in caves and crevices of rocks.

The snow leopard is able to cope with prey three times its mass. He hunts in most cases before sunset and at dawn, attacking from behind cover. The snow leopard tries to grab large prey by the throat and then strangle it.


Currently, the number of snow leopards is catastrophically small. In the XX century, this cat was included in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Red Book of Russia.


Leopard

The leopard is another representative of large cats, significantly smaller than the lion and tiger, one of the four representatives of the panther genus. Outwardly, it looks like a smaller jaguar. Body length without tail - up to 190 cm, weight - up to 75 kg. According to the fossil remains, the first ancestor of the leopard appeared in Asia 3.8 million years ago.


The skin of the animal is a golden background, on which solid black spots or in the form of rings are randomly scattered. Usually, the color of the fur is paler and duller in winter than in summer. As in the case of the jaguar, in nature (usually in Southeast Asia) there are melanistic leopards, which are called black panthers. The leopard is perhaps one of the most graceful and beautiful cats.


The leopard is a solitary and nocturnal animal. He climbs trees so dexterously that sometimes he even catches monkeys. However, the leopard hunts mainly on the ground, using two techniques: sneaking up on prey and waiting in ambush.


To prevent the hyenas from getting the prey, leopards drag it up the trees. The area of ​​the leopard's hunting area can reach 400 sq. Km. depending on the region, relief and abundance of prey.


Like lions and tigers, there are cannibals among leopards; usually these are old or sick individuals, unable to hunt their usual prey. Man is a very easy target for this predatory cat. So, in the 20s of the XX century, the "Rudraprayag cannibal" operated in India. This leopard had 125 on his account! cases of officially registered murders of people.


For many peoples, the leopard is a symbol of cruelty, ferocity, aggressiveness, fearlessness. Unfortunately, the leopard is an endangered species. In the XX century, it was included in the IUCN Red Data Book, in the Russian Red Data Book.


Clouded leopard

The Clouded Leopard is a large cat that lives in Southeast Asia and vaguely resembles a leopard. This is a fairly ancient species, as well as a possible ancestor of today's large felines.


Clouded leopard is the smallest "big cat": its size is roughly the size of a shepherd dog. Body length - 80-100 cm, weight - up to 21 kg. A characteristic feature of this cat is its long tail.
Small but toothy:


Clouded leopards are found in southeast Asia and live alone. Among felines, clouded leopards are the best at climbing trees, even better than the leopard itself. They wait for their victims (deer, wild boars, monkeys and birds) on the branches and suddenly attack from above.
The pattern on the coat of the clouded leopard is unusual: large, uneven black spots are scattered on a yellowish background. The entire species is classified as endangered.


Tiger

The tiger is the largest and heaviest cat and one of the largest land predators, second only in weight to white and brown bears, one of four representatives of the panther genus. Already about 2 million years ago, tigers were widespread in eastern Asia.


Tiger subspecies vary greatly in size and mass, but the largest are Bengal and Amur. Males can reach up to 2.4–2.8 meters in length without a tail and weigh up to 275 kg, and in some cases up to 300–320 kg. Record in captivity - 423 kg in the Amur tiger. For comparison, the weight of lions usually does not exceed 250 kg for about the same length.


The entire body of the tiger is covered with stripes, the color of which varies from brown to completely black, and the tail always ends with a black tip.


Due to the mutation, there are very rare animals in nature - white tigers. The frequency of their appearance is one individual in 10,000 with normal coloration. These are Bengal tigers with black-brown stripes on their white fur and blue eyes. Zoos now contain 130 white tigers:


An even more rare discoloration is gold. There are only 30 golden tigers in the zoos of the world:


Tigers are solitary and territorial predators. The territory of one male is usually 60–100 sq. Km. While hunting, tigers use two techniques: sneaking up on prey, moving in short, careful steps, often falling to the ground, and waiting in ambush.


During an attack, a tiger can reach speeds of up to 60 km / h on almost any terrain, and can also jump to heights of up to 5 meters and 9-10 meters in length. Sometimes the weight of the prey of this powerful cat is 6-7 times its own.


These majestic cats are also endangered species. In the XX century, it was included in the IUCN Red Book, in the Russian Red Book.

Tigers, lions, cougars, panthers, cheetahs and leopards are considered the largest cats on planet Earth. In total, about 37 species of the cat family live, and almost all are large. Big cats themselves are rather secretive animals, they avoid interaction with humans because of the danger that threatens them.

All representatives of the feline family differ from each other in color, behavior, character, habitat, etc. But there are amazing creatures that differ from others in their incredible size.

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Tiger

The tiger is the largest wild cat in the world. Representatives of this breed can weigh up to 250 kg. Height at the withers is 1.15 cm. An adult predator reaches 3 meters in length. The habitat of these predators is concentrated mainly in Asia.



External signs of a tiger:

• strong muscular body;
• round head with a convex skull;
• bright color (red with black stripes).

The tiger hunts alone. Its feeding area ranges from 300 to 500 km. For the predators, enmity among themselves was not noticed, if the amount of prey decreases, then the tigers attack livestock and people. The predator hunts in the morning and in the evening, thanks to its excellent eyesight, it sees perfectly in the dark. It attacks from an ambush, pursuing the victim in the footsteps.

Tigers are very clean, unlike other members of the feline family. Before hunting, he always bathes in order to bring down his smell, which will interfere with him during the hunt.

Humans are the easiest prey for a tiger. But he can attack only when a person violates the territory of a predator or the tiger's food supply runs out.

Now there are no cases of tiger attacks on people. This is due to the decline in the animal population. All subspecies of tigers disappear and are included in the Red Book.



Amur (Siberian) tiger

Compared to other tigers, the fur of this representative is thicker and longer. There is a layer of fat on his stomach that protects from the cold. The largest population is in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories, there are about 500 individuals. In eastern countries, its population is very low due to the fact that its fur is very valuable in alternative medicine.



Several decades ago, the population of the Amur tiger was quite large; over time, it decreased to 200 individuals. But thanks to the efforts of biologists, the number of Siberian tigers is gradually increasing. But they are still in the Red Book.



Wild steppe cats - lifestyle, character, the possibility of domestication

a lion

One of the largest cats on Earth. This dangerous predator in weight reaches 250 kg, and the height at the withers is 123 cm. The body length is 170 - 250 cm. The structure is somewhat similar to a tiger. The color can be either dark brown or sandy. A distinctive feature is the tassel at the end of the tail. The main decoration of a lion is a luxurious mane, which only males have.



Warns of the hunt with its majestic roar. The only felines live in prides. The leader of the pack leads him. In the hunt, males are in ambush, and females are beaters of prey. It is almost impossible to get into the pride to the lions. There is a certain number of animals in the flock, which is due to the food supply. The habitat of lions is located in Africa and India (less).



Puma (mountain lion)

Proudly bears the name of the second largest wild cat in America. The height at the withers is 60-70 cm, the length of the body reaches 180 cm, and the weight is up to 100 kg. The body of the animal is massive, elongated, the hind legs are larger than the front ones, the head is small. The color is reddish or gray.



It lives in almost all areas from the plains to the mountains. He is not particularly picky about food, he can eat both ungulates and insects. There are known cases of attacks on people, mostly children and short people walking alone.

Hunting for this predator does not affect its population in any way. This is due to the fact that the animal perfectly adapts to various conditions. Mainly in South America, western North America and Yucatan.

Leopard

The leopard is the most cunning of carnivorous cats. Although it differs in size from a lion and a tiger, it is not inferior to them in terms of the power of the jaw. Height at the withers is no more than 80 cm, and the animal gains weight up to 100 kg. The body length is from 120 to 195 cm. Because of their spotted color, leopards are attacked by poachers. Differs from other wild cats in that:

1. 1. perfectly climbs trees;
2. 2. overcomes water obstacles;
3. 3. eats fish;
4. 4. sits in ambush for a long time;
5. 5. hunts at night and alone;
6. 6. Drags food up the tree to protect it from other predators.



Panthers are considered more aggressive, whose color is black. They got this color due to the increased content of the hormone melatonin.

Jaguar

Very similar to a leopard, but much more massive and larger than it. Height at withers 63-75 cm, weight about 90 kg. The body length is up to 185 cm. By nature it is a lone predator, jaguars carefully guard their territory. Males protect their families, and females raise kittens until they grow up.



They can feed on both crocodiles and livestock. Attacks on humans are extremely rare. In most countries, this representative of the feline family is listed in the Red Book, but in Mexico it is allowed to shoot in a limited number.

Irbis

It is also called snowy beauty. It lives high in the mountains, descends to the foot only in case of pursuit of herbivorous ungulates. Outwardly, the leopard looks like a leopard, but more squat. It stands out for its unusual smoky fur covered with black spots. The body of the snow leopard is elongated and raised at the sacrum. the height at the withers is about 60 cm, and the body length varies from 103 to 130 cm. It lives in the regions of South and Central Asia.

There are several large feline hybrids in the world: liger, taigon, liligr, taligr. Of these, the largest liger is a hybrid of a lion and a tigress. In the wild, these hybrids have not been recorded, because outside the walls of zoos and circuses, lions and tigers are almost never met. The largest male ligers at present are Sudan, almost four meters tall and Hercules, 3 meters 70 cm tall. The latter weighs just over 400 kg. However, the largest recorded individual entered the Guinness Book of Records with a weight of almost 800 kg. Males of ligers are sterile - they do not give offspring, unlike them, females can reproduce well, they give rise to hybrids of liligers and taligras, which are much smaller than their parents.

Kiara, the daughter of the ligress Zita and the lion Samson, was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo in 2004, she became the first ligress in the world. When Zita refused to feed Kiara, the domestic cat Dasha took up raising and feeding the baby.

It is noteworthy that all representatives of large feline species belong to the Panther genus. However, it itself is not an independent species, since albino-like panthers are just leopards and jaguars with a rare black and even less white color. Their body weight can reach 115 kg, against the background of handsome ligers, this rare representative of the feline family is a kitten.

The largest domestic cat

The largest cat breeds are Maine Coon and Regdol. Some representatives of these animal breeds weigh between eight and twelve kilograms, which puts them in the first place among all domestic cats that have ever existed. The fluffy huge Maine Coon looks like a fabulous Bayun cat, but has a very sociable and affectionate disposition, he loves his family to adoration and is wary of strangers.

Domestic cats resemble Domestic Lynx and Pallas' cat in appearance, large enough representatives can reach up to 6 kilograms. If the Domestic Lynx adapts to keeping in the house, then Manul is an exceptionally wild cat.

Largest extinct cat

The largest representatives of the extinct feline are the cave lion, miracinonyx and saber-toothed tiger. However, these "dinosaurs" were not gigantic in size and were much smaller than modern tigers and ligers. Scientists are confident that ligers are an extinct species revived in an artificial environment. Perhaps earlier, lions and tigers were not separated by such great distances as they are now, and joint offspring could appear as a result of the natural meeting of representatives of these species.

There are many different animals in the world. They are all very different from each other. Some live in the sea, others on land. Some feed on plants, others are predators. Some of them are small, others are huge and heavy.

The heaviest aquatic animal

The largest and heaviest aquatic animal in the whole world is rightfully the blue whale. Its length can be about 30 meters, and its weight starts from 180 tons and more. Such an animal has a dark blue color with bluish tints on the sides. The heart of a blue whale can be about 600 kilograms, and the tongue is about 2.5 tons, which can be compared in size to.

The volume of the lungs of a blue whale is more than three thousand liters in size, which is an absolute record among all known animals.

Such whales feed on tiny organisms that are in the sea and have - krill. A blue whale can eat up to 40 million of these a day. Most often, blue whales prefer to stay alone or in pairs. Such animals communicate using echolocation. The sound that blue whales utter when communicating is similar to the sound of a working jet plane and can be carried over vast distances, more than one thousand kilometers.

Blue whale females give birth to their cubs once every three years after a previous pregnancy that lasts about a year. The weight of a newborn kitten varies within 3 tons.

The blue whale is a rather peaceful animal and has lost its belligerent abilities, which contributed to the almost complete extermination of this species.

The largest and heaviest land animal

The largest land animal is the elephant. The animal is characterized by a heavy massive body, short neck and large head, as well as huge ears and thick limbs. The weight of the male can reach 6 tons, the length is about 7 meters and the height is slightly more than 3 meters.

Females of the same animal weigh almost two times less. Their height is about 2.5 meters, and their length is about 5 meters. Due to its large size, adult elephants most often do not have in their natural habitat, but small elephants are quite often subjected to bloodthirsty attacks from crocodiles, hyenas and leopards.

According to the latest statistical estimates, the population of these animals in the wild is about 550 thousand individuals. The largest animal killed is the African elephant, which was shot in Angola, weighing more than 12 tons, which is a record.

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Hunting, destruction of forests and water bodies, littering of nature with waste are factors that have contributed to the extinction of nearly 850 species of the animal world over the past 500 years.

The main reasons for the extinction of species

Any changes on the planet affect the world. Both global (natural disasters, wars) and the most insignificant (forest fires, river floods). The most detrimental effect of animals is human activity, many have disappeared precisely because of it.

10 most famous extinct animals

Types of animals that humans can no longer see in nature:

Tyrannosaurus Rex was one of the largest land carnivores. It could reach 13 m in length, 5 m in height, and weigh 7 tons. Two-legged predator. He had a weapon in the form of a long tail and a powerful skull. Fossilized remains of individuals have been found in North America. According to the hypotheses of scientists, the species, along with the rest of the dinosaurs, more than 60 million years ago as a result of the collision of a comet with the Earth.

Quagga (extinct since 1883) is a subspecies of the common zebra with stripes on the front half of the body. They occupied a vast territory of Africa. They were exterminated by people for the sake of meat and making space for pastures for livestock.

The Tasmanian tiger (or wolf) was the largest marsupial carnivore of our time. Inhabited the territory of Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea. Received the name for the stripes on the back and habitat. Intensive hunting, diseases (introduced by humans to territories isolated from civilization), the appearance of dogs are to blame for the extinction of the species. The species has been considered extinct since 1936, but even today people appear who claim to have seen live individuals.

The sea cow (Steller subspecies) is an absolutely defenseless animal. The species was discovered in the Bering Sea in 1741 by Georg Steller. The individuals were similar to modern manatees, only much larger. An adult sea cow was 8 meters long and weighed about 3 tons. In just 27 years, animals were exterminated by humans for the sake of dense skin and fat.

Chinese River Dolphin - Extinct as a result of pollution of river waters by waste from cargo and industrial ships. In 2006, the extinction of the species was registered.

The Caspian tiger (extinct in the 1970s) - ranked third in size among all species. It was distinguished by unusually long hair, huge fangs and an elongated body. It resembled a Bengali in color.

Tur (extinct since 1627) is a primitive bull. Only aristocrats hunted them. When, in the 16th century, the threat of extinction hung over the view, hunting was prohibited and violation of the ban was severely punished. This did not save the population from destruction. At the beginning of the last century, they tried to revive the species in Germany, but to no avail.

The Great Auk (extinct since 1844) is flightless, reaching 75 cm in height and weighing about 5 kg. A representative of a large family, the only one who is up to modern history.

The cave lion is the largest lion. The main part died out during the Ice Age, the remains of the species could not recover after a series of cataclysms and finally disappeared 20 centuries ago.

Dodo (extinct at the end of the 17th century) is a flightless bird from the island of Mauritius. Belonged to the family of pigeons, however, reached 1 m in height. The species was also exterminated by humans.

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Tip 4: What kind of feline do domestic cats come from?

Domestic cats descended from wild representatives of the species of forest cats, although until now most biologists attribute them to this species and consider them only a separate subspecies. The period of domestication dates back to the Neolithic Revolution, which took place about 10 thousand years ago.

Domestic cats

Biologists have not yet come to a consensus on whether cats should be classified as a separate species or not. For a long time, the most common and beloved pets among people were considered representatives of the species of forest cats, forming a separate subspecies along with such groups as the Omani cat, steppe cat, cat and others. Despite some differences in appearance and behavior, all these groups really belong to the same species, since they can interbreed with each other and give healthy offspring.

The same applies to domestic cats: once in the wild and becoming feral, they can find themselves a mate among their wild counterparts and continue the race, which allows them to be considered the same species.

Nevertheless, some biologists propose to distinguish a separate species of domestic cats on the basis of the fact that they are separated by a huge chasm from their brothers: it is difficult to imagine that smooth sphinxes or blunt-nosed Persian cats belong to the same species as the graceful, aggressive and forest cat.

History of domestic cats

Thus, the ancestors of all domestic cats were forest cats - small carnivorous mammals today living in Africa, northern regions of Asia and Europe. They are fast, cunning, shy and aggressive animals.

They, in turn, descended from more ancient representatives of the genus of cats and have close family ties with the sand cat - a small animal resembling a small lynx.

Several thousand years ago, forest cats inhabited the territory of the Middle East and at first tried not to meet with representatives of the human race. During the Neolithic Revolution, people learned to grow plants, and grain supplies began to attract rodents to people's homes. It is believed that the small mammals pest animals were followed by predatory cats that hunted them.

Gradually, people began to cooperate: the neighborhood was beneficial to both. The domestication of these animals took place about 10 thousand years ago, presumably in the area of ​​the so-called Fertile Crescent, where the first settled settlements and the beginnings of human civilizations were formed.

Genetic studies made it possible to identify the origin of domestic cats more accurately: all representatives of the domestic subspecies descended on the maternal line from several steppe cats. Steppe cats are a subspecies of forest cats, which separated from other predators of this species about 130 thousand years ago. It was these animals that lived in the Middle East, they were domesticated by the ancestors of modern people.

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Maine Coon is a large, muscular cat with wide strong legs and large ears. On the head and neck, the hair of these animals is short, on the back and sides it lengthens. In addition, Maine Coons have a luxurious fluffy collar and tassels on their already long ears. The color of the coat in representatives of this breed can vary. The color may contain black, white, gray, brown, as well as any combination of these shades. There are also bright red Maine Coons.

The fruit of love of a cat and a raccoon

"Maine Coon" means "Maine raccoon". The breed got this name due to the similarity of animals with raccoons. For a long time, people who did not understand biology believed that the shaggy Maine Coon with tassels on the ears and a characteristic striped color was the result of a love affair between a raccoon and a cat. Of course, there are no raccoons among the ancestors of Maine Coons, but the name stuck with the breed.

The nature of a huge cat

Despite its impressive size, the Maine Coon is a meek and docile animal. These cats are strongly attached to the owner, for which they received the nickname cat-dog. They can, like a devoted dog, spend the whole day around the house, watching what he is doing, and patiently waiting until the owner is free and can pay attention to them. At the same time, Maine Coons are not intrusive. They will not lie on the keyboard when you work at the laptop, and they will not fit between your face and the book while you read. Raccoons are usually wary of strangers, but do not show aggression.

In appearance, the Maine Coon may seem clumsy, but in fact he is very active. It is better to start this breed for people living in their houses or spacious apartments, since the Maine Coon loves to run, hunt for a ball or. Until recently, the ancestors of cats caught mice on farms, so the hunting instincts in them are very strong.

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Wild felines are found on all continents and major islands, with the exception of Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar, Greenland, New Guinea and Sulawesi. All types of wild cats are listed in the Red Book, many of which are either on the verge of extinction or under threat of destruction.

The sizes of animals vary greatly. The rusty cat is the smallest representative of the feline, it weighs about 1.5 kg, and its body length reaches 40 cm on average. The tiger has the largest body mass. Individuals of this species often reach a mass of more than 300 kg, and their body length reaches 3.8 m. Nevertheless, all species of the feline family are very similar to each other, both in appearance and in their way of life. They are excellent hunters, ideally suited to watch and kill prey.

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  Oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus)

  The tiger cat, better known as the oncilla, is relatively small in size. It is slightly larger than an ordinary domestic cat, the weight of an adult male rarely exceeds 3 kg, and the body length reaches 65 cm. The eyes and ears of the animal are noticeably larger in comparison with the skull than in other representatives of this genus.

  

  Oncilla has a soft, short coat of an ocher hue. On the muzzle, in the area of ​​the abdomen and chest, the color turns to whitish. Thanks to the pattern on the skin, the small predator is very similar to the baby jaguar. On the back and sides of the animal, ring-shaped spots of irregular shape are located in longitudinal rows. In the area of ​​the tail, the spots become transverse, gradually merging into rings closer to its end. There is a white speck on the black rounded ears.

  The representative of this breed lives in subtropical forests, giving preference to moist evergreen forests in mountainous areas at an altitude of 3 thousand meters above sea level. You can meet oncilla in Costa Rica, northern Argentina, northern Panama, Brazil and the dry forests of Venezuela. In most of the animal's habitat, hunting for them is prohibited, since the species is endangered.

  This species has been little studied due to its secretive lifestyle in nature. The animal shows its main activity at night, while during the day it prefers to hide in the branches of trees. The predator feeds mainly on birds and small rodents. But it can also attack small primates, non-venomous reptiles.

  The breeding of the breed in the wild has not been studied, all the information collected has been obtained by observing the oncilla in captivity. The duration of a cat's pregnancy is 2.5 months. There are usually 1 or 2 kittens in a litter. Individuals become sexually mature at the age of 1–2 years.

  

  Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

  This type of feline is considered to be quite ancient. The body length of the breed reaches 1 meter, the tail can be up to 92 cm, and the height at the withers ranges from 50–55 cm. Adult male clouded leopards weigh up to 21 kg, females are somewhat smaller, their weight reaches 15 kg.

  

  A beautiful pattern on the yellowish fur of the animal is formed by large dark spots of various shapes. In the area of ​​the neck and back, the spots are elongated. There are few spots on the belly and ribcage of the clouded leopard, the color of the coat is almost white. The animal's skull is noticeably longer than that of other felines. Another distinctive feature of the beast is its larger canines compared to body size. The tail of the cat is large and heavy, towards the end its color becomes darker.

  The clouded leopard is found in southeast Asia. The predator is found in southern China, you can find it in the territory from the eastern Himalayas to Vietnam. At the moment, the species is endangered. Because of the beautiful spotted skin, which was highly prized, the leopard was hunted for a long time. But the main threat to the cat's existence is the massive deforestation of tropical forests, which are the home of the animal.

  The predator prefers to lead a solitary lifestyle and mostly hides in the thickets. The animal masterfully climbs trees and swims beautifully, a massive tail helps to maintain balance. These magnificent cats hunt reptiles, birds, goats and small deer. A monkey can also become a victim of a leopard. The predator prefers to hide on tree branches, suddenly jumping on top of its prey.

  It has not yet been possible to collect information on animal reproduction in the wild. All knowledge on this account is obtained by observing individuals in captivity. Pregnancy lasts about 3 months, after which 1 to 5 babies appear on the account. The mother feeds the offspring with milk for 5 months, but already from 2 months, their diet begins to be supplemented with food from adults. By the age of 9 months, young leopards become independent and fully prepared for life apart from their mother.

  

  Wild steppe cats - lifestyle, character, the possibility of domestication

  Temminck (Catopuma temminckii)

  The temminka cat, whose second name is the Asian golden cat, looks very similar to the puma, but differs in the size and color of the fur. The body length of an adult individual reaches an average of 90 cm, the weight can reach 16 kg.

  

  The coat of the cat is most often golden or dark brown, but there are other color options, for example, black or gray. On the small head near the eyes there are stripes of white and black. Depending on the region in which the animal lives, spots may be visible on the animal's skin.

  The territory in which these graceful predators live covers southeastern Tibet, Vietnam, China. And also the cat is found on the island of Sumatra. The animal prefers tropical and subtropical forests, can climb mountains to a height of 3 thousand meters above sea level. Hunting for individuals of this species and deforestation in their habitat led to the fact that temminka is included in the list of rare animals.

  Presented breeds prefer to live alone. They are shy, very wary and nocturnal. Moving mainly on the ground, the golden cat nevertheless climbs trees perfectly. In search of prey, the animal often travels long distances. A cat's diet includes young deer, birds, small mammals and reptiles.

  The process of bearing cubs lasts for 80 days. The number of kittens in a litter is from 1 to 3 pieces. Feeding babies with milk lasts up to 6 months with a gradual transition to an adult diet. The male takes part in raising offspring.

  

  Red lynx (Lynx rufus)

  The red lynx is a type of lynx native to North America. It differs from the usual lynx in noticeably smaller size. Its body length rarely exceeds 80 cm, its tail is short. The height of the animal at the withers is up to 35 cm, the weight varies between 6-11 kg.

  

  The color of the coat of representatives of the species is reddish-brown with a clearly visible gray tint and small specks. The tip of the animal's tail has a white spot on the inside. The ears of the animal are triangular in shape with pointed tips, on which there are small tassels. The muzzle is round, with a noticeably longer coat growing along its edges.

  The red lynx is widespread throughout the territory from the east to the west coast of the United States, in Canada and Mexico. The animal lives in coniferous and deciduous forests, in wetlands, in the subtropics and even in arid regions. Can be found near cities. The existence of the species is not threatened.

  Moves on the ground, climbing trees only in search of shelter and prey. A cat's diet includes snakes and rodents; it often attacks birds, including domestic ones. But the main food source of this predator is the American rabbit. When hunting for prey, it can walk up to 10 km per night.

  Mating period starts in February. The duration of pregnancy is 50 days. At the end of it, up to 6 blind babies are born. Within a month, young animals begin to diversify their menu with adult food. Sexual maturity in females occurs at the 12th month of life, in males at 2 years.

  Lion (Panthera leo)

  Representatives of this species are among the largest cats in existence at the moment. The body weight of individual males reaches 250 kg or more. The length of the powerful muscular body of the predator is up to 3 meters, the tail reaches 90 cm. Females are somewhat smaller in size and their weight rarely exceeds 180 kg.

  

  The appearance of the animal is very peculiar. In addition, it is one of the few species with clearly visible sexual dimorphism. Individuals of the male sex of these cats differ not only in weight and body size, but also in the presence of a mane. Its hair covers the head, part of the back, chest and shoulders of the animal. The skin of the animal is covered with short sandy-gray hair. A thick mane can be either the same shade as the main color, or darker, up to black. There is a tassel at the tip of the tail.

  The predator's habitat has undergone dramatic changes under the influence of humans. Previously, the area of ​​distribution of this species was much wider, for example, cats could be found in the Middle East and in the southern part of modern Russia. Now animals can be found in sub-Saharan Africa. A small number of individuals live in the Gir forest in the south of the Kathiyavar Peninsula.

  Unlike other representatives of the feline family, lions are social animals and they live in whole groups, called prides. Most often, the lion family consists of cubs, several related females and 1-2 adult males. All females are engaged in feeding and protecting young animals, regardless of whose litter it is. If one of the mothers dies for some reason, the rest of her kittens are raised. Females from the pride are reluctant to accept. Young adult males are expelled from the pack, after which, at the call of instincts, they look for families of lionesses and fight for supremacy in the new pride.

  Pride hunts at dusk, while in the daytime cats prefer to rest in the shade. Most of the prey is taken by females, lions rarely take part in this event. Hunting for large prey, the pride tries to isolate it from the herd, after which they attack and kill. A buffalo, wildebeest, or a zebra can be the target of a lion family.

  Tiger (Panthera tigris)

  As the most massive and heaviest member of the feline family, the tiger can weigh up to 320 kg. The elongated and flexible body of the predator sometimes reaches 2.9 m in length without a tail. The height at the withers is 1.15 m. The sizes depend on the habitat: in more northern territories, the size of cats is larger than in southern ones.

  

  Depending on the subspecies of the animal, the basic color of the coat varies from light yellow to rusty brown. The entire body is adorned with brown or black vertical stripes arranged asymmetrically. The lower part of the body is white. The outer side of the ears is black with a white spot in the middle.

  This powerful predator lives in the northern parts of Iran and Afghanistan, in Nepal, Thailand, in some provinces of China. You can meet the animal in India, Indonesia, Russia, Vietnam and Pakistan. Tigers have inhabited many types of landscapes: dry deserts and semi-deserts, tropical rainforests, taiga, highlands and mangrove swamps. The species is on the verge of extinction, hunting for it is prohibited throughout the world.

  Tigers are territorial solitary animals that fiercely defend their possessions. Despite its impressive size, the predator silently moves through forests and mountain slopes. He disguises well and is endowed with incredible strength and agility. He knows how to climb trees, but he rarely does it. The animal hunts for rather large prey, including wild bulls, deer, moose, wild boars and even bears. This animal swims well and can catch fish and small crocodiles. When hungry times come, the tiger can feed on amphibians, reptiles, rodents, birds, and even plants. Carrion eats in exceptional cases.

  Breeding of cats takes place throughout the year. The duration of pregnancy is 3.5 months. Before giving birth, the female searches for a suitable den. Most often, 2-3 blind kittens appear in one litter. From the age of two months, in addition to milk, babies begin to eat adult food. The tigress is a caring mother. Having reached the age of 2 years, young animals begin to participate in hunting with her. At 3-4 years old, young individuals leave their home and look for a separate territory.

  Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

  Outwardly, this graceful predator differs from its feline counterparts. The structure of his flexible body by anatomical features resembles the structure of a greyhound dog. The cheetah has long and strong legs, on which claws are located, which are only partially retracted, which is not typical for cats. A large chest and voluminous lungs serve for active breathing while running.

  

  The cheetah is considered the fastest mammal: the speed that the animal is capable of developing while hunting is about 130 km per hour.

  The height of the predator at the withers is 80 cm. The body length of an adult cat can reach 130 cm, the tail - up to 80 cm. The weight of a mature individual varies from 40 to 75 kg. The color of the animal's coat is sandy yellow. The entire hide is covered with small black spots. There are thin black stripes on the side of the muzzle.

  Almost the entire population of cheetahs has survived only in African countries: South Africa, Tanzania, Algeria, Angola, Zambia, Kenya and others. The number of these cats in Asia is minimal, their finding is confirmed only in the central part of Iran. The conservation status of the species is vulnerable animals.

  Cheetahs are diurnal, hunting either in the morning or in the evening, since it is at this time that it is quite light and not very hot. The main prey of these cats is Thomson's gazelle, but they also hunt impalas, wildebeest and hares. Sometimes they can attack ostriches. Unlike other cats, cheetahs hunt by pursuit rather than ambush. The speed developed by the animal is high, but it does not allow jogging for long distances. If a predator does not catch prey in the first 10–20 seconds, then, most likely, it will end its pursuit.

  The duration of pregnancy for a female cheetah is 3 months. 2-6 kittens are born. Feeding babies with milk occurs up to 8 months. The young stays with their mother for up to 20 months. The average life expectancy in captivity is 20 years.

  Puma (Puma concolor)

  The cougar is the 4th largest feline. Only a lion, a tiger and a jaguar are larger than a cougar. An adult male of this species can weigh up to 105 kg. The average height of the animal at the withers is 80–90 cm, the length of the flexible elongated body is 150–180 cm, and the length of the tail is about 70 cm.

  

  The animal's coat is thick and short. The color is monochromatic, ranging from brownish-yellow to brownish-gray. The lower part of the body is light. The relatively small head has round ears. The feet are strong with wide feet and retractable claws. The tail is dark in color.

  The cougar is distributed in the south of North America and practically throughout the entire territory of South America. The number of the species is such that its existence is not threatened. It inhabits many types of terrain: mountainous areas, forests, plains and swampy areas.

  Except for the breeding season, cougars are solitary. In the daytime, cats prefer to relax, basking in the sun, while they go hunting at dusk. Moose, deer, wild pigs, small crocodiles, squirrels, beavers, etc. become the prey of the predator. It attacks from ambush, does not like long chases, quickly fizzles out.

  Pregnancy in an animal lasts about 3 months, in one litter there are from 2 to 6 kittens. At birth, kittens differ from an adult animal in color: their color is darker with black spots, and their tail is surrounded by dark rings. Young animals live with their mother for up to 2 years.

  Caracal caracal

  Outwardly, the caracal is very similar to a lynx, but it is smaller in size and color. At the withers, the animal reaches about 45 cm, the body length is no more than 86 cm, the tail is 30 cm. At the tips of the ears, tassels are clearly visible, sometimes reaching up to 5 cm in length. The weight of the cat is not more than 22 kg.

  

  The thick and short hair of the caracal has a sandy or reddish brown color, in the abdomen and chest the color approaches white. There are black markings on the side of the head. The outer side of the ears and tassels are black.

  The predator chooses arid regions as its home. The animal is well adapted to long-term living without water, usually the liquid that it receives from the prey is enough for it. The caracal lives in Asia Minor and Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa. It is rare on the territory of the CIS. The existence of the species is not threatened.

  The predator shows its main activity closer to the night, however, in winter, it hunts in the daylight. Despite strong and long legs, the caracal does not like long running, so it hunts from an ambush. Rodents, birds, reptiles and small ungulates can become its food.

  Caracals breed all year round. A cat's pregnancy lasts 80 days, in one litter the female brings up to 6 babies. Every day, a caring female carries kittens from one secluded place to another until they reach one month old. Already at the age of 6 months, young individuals begin to live independently.

  Jaguar (Panthera onca)

  As the third largest feline, the jaguar can reach a weight of 90-120 kg. The height of the animal at the withers is 75 cm, the body length reaches 1.8 m, the tail length is up to 75 cm. Females of this species are on average 20% lighter than males.

  

  Outwardly, the animal is very similar to a leopard, but noticeably exceeds its size. The jaguar's paws are strong and short, with rounded ears on the massive head. Outside, the ears are black with a yellow spot in the middle. The thick short fur of the animal has a pattern similar to that of a leopard. The main color of the coat is sandy or bright red. The lower body is white. Inside the spots, the color of the skin is slightly darker than the main one.

  The animal is widespread in the Americas. The species is not threatened, but controlled. The jaguar can inhabit almost all types of terrain, but tries to avoid open spaces. Prefers tropical forests with high humidity.

  It moves on the ground, but climbs trees well. And also this representative of the feline swims beautifully and loves to spend time in the water. It is active at any time of the day, but it hunts mainly at night. The predator feeds on ungulates, crocodiles, birds, wild pigs, sea turtles and even fish.

  During a pregnancy lasting 3-3.5 months, the female brings up to 4 spotted kittens, which she hides in the den. At the age of 1.5 months, babies begin to leave the shelter and observe the mother's hunt. Among the young of this species, there is a high mortality rate, only half of the litter survives to the age of 2 years. At the same age, young individuals begin to live independently.

  Pallas' cat (Felis manul)

  Outwardly, this steppe cat is very similar to domestic cats, and even practically does not differ in size. The length of the dense and massive body of the animal ranges from 50 to 65 cm, the tail - from 23 to 30 cm. The weight of an adult varies from 3-5 kg.

  

  Pallas' cat has a very thick and fluffy coat. The color is combined and consists of a mixture of light gray and pale ocher color, while the ends of the hair are white. There are dark stripes on the muzzle, as well as on the back of the body. The lower part of the body is slightly lighter, and the tip of the long, thick tail is colored black. An interesting feature of the cat is the round rather than the usual cat's pupils.

  These beautiful animals are listed in the Red Book, their numbers are not known for certain, but the species is endangered. Pallas' cat is widespread in Central and Central Asia. On the territory of Russia, this species lives in three zones:

  • in the steppe zone of the Chita region;
  • steppe and forest-steppe zones of Buryatia;
  • in the southeast of Tyva and Altai.

  Pallas' cat is well adapted to survive in the harsh continental climate with low temperatures in winter. The animal is sedentary, being active at night and early in the morning. Lives in a den among rocks or in abandoned burrows of various animals. The main prey of Pallas' cat is rodents, sometimes it catches birds and hares. It hunts by watching, in which its camouflage color helps well.

  The breeding season for these animals falls in February-March. The duration of pregnancy is 2 months, from 2 to 6 kittens are born. There are spots in the coloring of the babies. Young animals begin to hunt independently at the age of 3-4 months. The average life expectancy is 12 years.

  Margai (Leopardus wiedii)

  The size of this type of cats is small: the body length does not exceed 80 cm, the tail length is 40 cm.The average weight ranges from 4 to 6 kg. The appearance of this type of cat is very similar to an ocelot. Margai's yellow-brown fur is covered with black ring-shaped spots. The lower body is lighter, almost white. Outside, ears are dark with a white spot.

  

  Margai inhabits areas with rainforests: evergreen moist forests of South America. Cats are nocturnal, living alone. This small predator loves to climb trees and spends most of its life on their branches. The hind limbs of the animal are so strong that they allow it to move upside down along tree trunks like a squirrel. Margai chooses birds, rodents and small primates as prey.

  There are no specific mating periods for the species. The duration of the bearing of babies by a female is about 84 days, after which from 1 to 2 kittens are born. The gray wool of young animals is dotted with spots from the very beginning of life. Babies get out of the shelter only at the age of 2 months. They acquire full independence closer to 9-10 months. Margai is one of the most endangered species. Hunting for them is prohibited.

The variegated family of cats, numbering 37 species, is divided into two groups in size: large and small. The classification is based not on the height of the animal at the withers, but on the features of its anatomical structure. Therefore, biologists refer to the largest wild cats as representatives of the subfamily of large and small cats.

10.

Of all the felines that inhabit European forests, the common lynx is the largest. The body weight of the male is about 29 kg, the female is 4-6 kg lighter. The body length does not exceed 130 cm. Mammals live on the territory of Russia, Central Asia, Central and Northern Europe. At the beginning of the 20th century, the extermination of predators led to the threat of their extinction. Today, lynx fishing is generally prohibited.

The animal with ears decorated with tassels and a short tail seems cute and harmless. But under a spotted thick fur coat, a skillful and cunning hunter is hiding, capable of smelling prey at a distance of 2 km. Its victims are hares, foxes, birds, rodents and small ungulates: roe deer and musk deer. The lynx never attacks people. Even an adult caught by a person is easily tamed and becomes a pet.

9. Snow Leopard

To date, the number of snow leopards is unknown. Irbis, living far from people, is the most poorly studied representative of the feline tribe. Muscular wild cat is found in the mountainous regions of Central Asia and South Siberia at an altitude of 1.5-5 thousand meters above sea level. The short, thick legs, equipped with wide pads, are adapted for walking on loose snow, and the ability to make 8-meter jumps helps to overcome deep crevasses.

The four-legged inhabitant of the mountain peaks resembles a leopard in posture and size. The growth of the male reaches 65 cm, weight - 55 kg. Fluffy gray-beige fur reliably protects from cold weather and camouflages in snowy gorges. A distinctive feature of the exterior is a meter thick tail, which the snow leopard uses as a rudder when running and jumping.

8.

Despite the height at the withers reaching 92 cm and weight of 65 kg, zoologists classify the cheetah as a subfamily of small cats. This is due to the characteristics of the skeleton - the mammal has long, thin limbs, a compact skull and an extremely flexible spine. This structure allows the animal to reach speeds of up to 120 km / h. In hunting, he is also helped by a long tail, which serves as a balancer and helps to quickly change the direction of movement.

Outwardly, the sprinter of the fauna world resembles an elegant dog of the Russian greyhound breed. Like dogs, giant cats do not retract their claws, cannot climb trees, do not hunt from ambush, and do not tend to consume carrion. The sounds they make resemble a staccato yapping. Unlike most congeners, cheetahs quickly get used to humans. In Iran, India and Kievan Rus, tamed animals often helped people on the hunt.

7. Leopard

The muscular, elongated body, strong legs and excellent vision make the leopard the perfect killer. In pursuit of prey, a powerful flexible cat accelerates to 58 km / h and makes jumps of 7 m in length.With a body weight of up to 66 kg, it is able to kill a prey 3 times its weight. The hunter always lifts the desired trophy up a tree for a subsequent meal.

The size of the predator directly depends on the geographical features of the range. Thus, the four-legged inhabitants of open spaces grow up to 75 cm, the inhabitants of the forests - up to 67 cm. The short thick wool, decorated with a spotted pattern, adheres tightly to the body. The belly and inner side of the legs are light yellow, the rest of the body is golden brown. Individuals with black color are called panthers.

6.

This feline is the champion in terms of the number of names. Residents of different countries are familiar with the puma as the Mexican lion, panther, mountain screamer, red tiger, cougar ... In total, there are 83 definitions of an animal whose beauty and grace are combined with ruthlessness and composure.

The cougar's habitat is the woodlands and mountainous regions of America. The silhouette of the predator resembles a small lioness. The growth of the golden beauty is 60–85 cm, weight is about 90 kg. A distinctive character trait of a cougar is patience. Waiting for prey, she sits in ambush for a long time, not betraying her presence in any way. Having fallen into a trap, the mammal calmly tries to get out of the grip. In case of failure, he falls into melancholy and motionlessly awaits death.

5.

The golden skin of this massive predator, whose height at the withers varies from 69 to 79 cm and weighs from 68 to 135 kg, is painted with bright patterns - black spots and rings. The intricate color scheme helps to camouflage itself perfectly among shrubs and trees. In pursuit of prey, the jaguar is second to none. A hardy mammal travels tens of kilometers every day, it swims beautifully and runs fast. Kills the hunter in one jump - a blow from a powerful paw can break the victim's spine.

The range of jaguars is Central and South America. The Olmec Indians inhabiting these lands in the II century BC. e., believed that humans and huge spotted cats have common ancestors. Today, the graceful animal, once revered by humans, is endangered and is listed in the Red Book.

4. Leo

There are no two absolutely identical lions on the planet. The features of the "face" of each animal are unique and inherent in only one individual. The body length of the royal individuals of the fauna is 1.7–2.5 m, height - up to 1.2 m, weight - 160–280 kg. The largest specimen lived in South Africa and weighed 313 kg.

In hunting, the lion is helped by 7-centimeter claws and vision, the sharpness of which is 6 times higher than that of a human. Running is not a predator's strongest point. At short distances, the giant cat accelerates to 60 km / h, but after 200 m it gets tired and stops chasing prey. The lack of stamina forces the animal to get as close as possible to the victim and in a rapid jump, inflict a fatal blow. Lionesses are lighter and faster than males, and therefore more successful in the hunt.

3.

In India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, the royal representative of the panther genus, the Bengal tiger, lives. In Russia, its population is 5 individuals. The predatory mammal is one of the largest cats in the world. The growth of an inhabitant of tropical forests reaches 115 cm, weight - 275 kg. An intimidating roar is heard at a distance of 3 km. Deadly canines grow up to 10 cm. The record weight of a male killed in an Indian forest in 1967 was 388.7 kg.

Among Bengal tigers there are amazing creatures, the snow-white wool of which is covered with brown stripes. All white individuals have one ancestor - the male Mohan, born in 1951 as a result of a gene mutation.

2.

The largest wild cat found in its natural habitat lives in Russia, in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories and the mountainous regions of Sikhote-Alin. Outside of the Russian Federation, the beast is found only in the northeast of China.

The smallest representative of the tiger brotherhood has the following characteristics:

• body length -1.7–2.8 m, tail - 1.1 m;
• height at the withers - 110–120 cm;
• weight - 167-280 kg;
• the length of the canines is 8 cm.

Like all felines (except lions), Amur tigers lead a solitary life, defending their territory from competitors. The animal hunts alone. He is an absolute predator - a huge hungry cat can attack even a bear.

Now the livestock of animals does not exceed 800 individuals, half of which are kept in zoos. The endangered species is listed in the Red Book, its extermination is prosecuted. In China, killing a striped animal is punishable by death.

1.

The result of the love of tigress Isla and lion Arthur, who shared a common enclosure in the American theme park Jungle Island, became a kitten, which was later destined to lead the rating of the largest cats on the planet. Having reached maturity, the liger Hercules surpassed the size of his parents. His height is 186 cm, weight - 410 kg. Standing on its hind legs, the giant reaches up to the roof of the double-decker bus. The gaping mouth is as wide as the shoulder girdle of an adult male.

Hercules is not the only member of the hybrid genus. In 1973, the Guinness Book of Records was replenished with an entry about a giant weighing 798 kg from a South African Natural Park. In 2004, a female was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo - the result of crossing an African lion and a Bengal tigress. Under natural conditions, it is impossible to meet a liger - tigers and lions have different habitats.