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Big cat refers to large wild felines of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Australia and Antarctica have no indigenous species of cats.
The term big cat is used to distinguish truly large felids, which can weigh several hundred pounds, from much smaller Felidae species. Despite enormous differences in size, the various species of cat are amazingly similar in both structure and behavior. All cats are carnivores and efficient predators.
Wikibooks has more about this subject:
Wikijunior Big CatsThe 3 of the 4 largest cats are members of the genus Panthera. One definition of big cat includes only the four species of Panthera (lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars). Members of this genus can roar while other cats cannot. Consequently, the ability to roar is sometimes considered a distinguishing characteristic of big cats. These cats are also sometimes called great cats. The Puma while not a Panthera is larger than the leopard, and represents the 4th largest cat.
The ability to roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx. When air passes through larynx on the way to the lungs, the cartilage walls of the larynx vibrate, producing sound. The lion's larynx is longest, giving it the most robust roar. Though jaguars are considered great cats, they are not often known to roar and have a less developed larynx. It is believed that their larynx is slightly less evolved. The snow leopard is also said to have a larynx nearly adapted for roaring, but it is far less developed than the jaguar. Cats that cannot roar have vocal chords more suited for purring, while roaring cats cannot purr.
In addition to the genus Panthera, four other species (cheetahs, snow leopards, clouded leopards and pumas), with adult males weighing as much as 150 lb (70 kg) or slightly more, are often considered to be big cats. When these other four cats are considered big cats, the roaring cats can be referred to as "great cats" for distinction. The offspring of the great cats, the roaring Pantheras, are called cubs while the offspring of the lesser big cats are referred to as kittens.
Some medium-sized cats like Eurasian lynxes may weigh as much as 55 lb (25 kg), considerably outweighing the domestic cat, but are not considered big cats.
Species
Tiger, Panthera tigris (Asia)
Lion, Panthera leo (Africa, Gir Forest in India; extinct in former range of in southeast Europe and the Middle East)
Jaguar, Panthera onca (the Americas; from Mexico to northern Argentina)
Leopard, Panthera pardus (Asia and Africa)
Other "big cats":
Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus (Africa and Iran)
Puma, Puma concolor (North and South America)
Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia (mountains of central and south Asia)
Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa (southeast and south Asia)
Onza (Pre-Columbian Mexico)
Medium-sized cats:
Genus Lynx:
Eurasian Lynx, Lynx lynx (Europe and Asia)
Bobcat, Lynx rufus (North America)
Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis (North America)
Iberian Lynx, Lynx pardinus (Europe)
Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis (Mexico, Central and South America, and southwestern Texas, USA)
Caracal, Caracal caracal (Africa)
Serval, Leptailurus serval (Africa)
Threats to Big Cats
The principal threats to big cats are habitat destruction and poaching, including so-called canned hunts, in which captive animals on reserves are shot for sport.
Big cats were threatened by the exotic pet trade but now international trade is regulated by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
In the United States, 19 states have banned ownership of big cats and other dangerous exotic animals as pets, and the Captive Wildlife Safety Act[1] bans the interstate sale and transportation of these animals. Nevertheless, there are still an estimated 15,000 big cats kept captive in America, and only a small percentage of them are in accredited zoos.[2] The remainder are in private homes and nonaccredited roadside zoos.
The term big cat is used to distinguish truly large felids, which can weigh several hundred pounds, from much smaller Felidae species. Despite enormous differences in size, the various species of cat are amazingly similar in both structure and behavior. All cats are carnivores and efficient predators.
Wikibooks has more about this subject:
Wikijunior Big CatsThe 3 of the 4 largest cats are members of the genus Panthera. One definition of big cat includes only the four species of Panthera (lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars). Members of this genus can roar while other cats cannot. Consequently, the ability to roar is sometimes considered a distinguishing characteristic of big cats. These cats are also sometimes called great cats. The Puma while not a Panthera is larger than the leopard, and represents the 4th largest cat.
The ability to roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx. When air passes through larynx on the way to the lungs, the cartilage walls of the larynx vibrate, producing sound. The lion's larynx is longest, giving it the most robust roar. Though jaguars are considered great cats, they are not often known to roar and have a less developed larynx. It is believed that their larynx is slightly less evolved. The snow leopard is also said to have a larynx nearly adapted for roaring, but it is far less developed than the jaguar. Cats that cannot roar have vocal chords more suited for purring, while roaring cats cannot purr.
In addition to the genus Panthera, four other species (cheetahs, snow leopards, clouded leopards and pumas), with adult males weighing as much as 150 lb (70 kg) or slightly more, are often considered to be big cats. When these other four cats are considered big cats, the roaring cats can be referred to as "great cats" for distinction. The offspring of the great cats, the roaring Pantheras, are called cubs while the offspring of the lesser big cats are referred to as kittens.
Some medium-sized cats like Eurasian lynxes may weigh as much as 55 lb (25 kg), considerably outweighing the domestic cat, but are not considered big cats.
Species
Tiger, Panthera tigris (Asia)
Lion, Panthera leo (Africa, Gir Forest in India; extinct in former range of in southeast Europe and the Middle East)
Jaguar, Panthera onca (the Americas; from Mexico to northern Argentina)
Leopard, Panthera pardus (Asia and Africa)
Other "big cats":
Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus (Africa and Iran)
Puma, Puma concolor (North and South America)
Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia (mountains of central and south Asia)
Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa (southeast and south Asia)
Onza (Pre-Columbian Mexico)
Medium-sized cats:
Genus Lynx:
Eurasian Lynx, Lynx lynx (Europe and Asia)
Bobcat, Lynx rufus (North America)
Canada Lynx, Lynx canadensis (North America)
Iberian Lynx, Lynx pardinus (Europe)
Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis (Mexico, Central and South America, and southwestern Texas, USA)
Caracal, Caracal caracal (Africa)
Serval, Leptailurus serval (Africa)
Threats to Big Cats
The principal threats to big cats are habitat destruction and poaching, including so-called canned hunts, in which captive animals on reserves are shot for sport.
Big cats were threatened by the exotic pet trade but now international trade is regulated by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
In the United States, 19 states have banned ownership of big cats and other dangerous exotic animals as pets, and the Captive Wildlife Safety Act[1] bans the interstate sale and transportation of these animals. Nevertheless, there are still an estimated 15,000 big cats kept captive in America, and only a small percentage of them are in accredited zoos.[2] The remainder are in private homes and nonaccredited roadside zoos.
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