Rating of the biggest cats in the world. Big cats in the wild: amazing facts
Kiara, the daughter of the ligress Zita and the lion Samson, was born in the Novosibirsk Zoo in 2004, she became the first liliger in the world. When Zita refused to feed Kiara, the house cat Dasha took over raising and feeding the baby.
It is noteworthy that all representatives large species felines belong to the genus Panthera. However, she herself is not an independent species, because like albinos, panthers are just leopards and jaguars with a rare black and even rarer white coloration. Their body weight can reach 115 kg; compared to the handsome ligers, this rare representative cat family kitten.
The largest domestic cat
The largest cat breeds are Maine Coon and Ragdoll. Some representatives of these animal breeds weigh from eight to twelve kilograms, which puts them in first place among all domestic cats that have ever existed. The fluffy, huge Maine Coon looks like a fairy-tale Bayun cat, but has a very sociable and affectionate disposition; he loves his family to the point of adoration and is wary of strangers.Domestic cats resemble in appearance Domestic Lynx and Manul, fairly large representatives can reach up to 6 kilograms. If the Domestic Lynx adapts to being kept in the house, then the Manul is exclusively wild cat.
The largest extinct cat
The largest representative of extinct cats is cave lion, miracinonyx and Saber-toothed tiger. However, these “dinosaurs” did not have gigantic sizes and were much smaller than modern tigers and ligers. Scientists are confident that ligers are an extinct species that has been revived in an artificial environment. Perhaps, previously, lions and tigers were not separated by such large distances as they are now, and joint offspring could have resulted from a 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 eat 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. This animal has a dark blue color with bluish tints On the sides. The heart of a blue whale can weigh about 600 kilograms, and the tongue can weigh about 2.5 tons, which in size can be compared with.
The volume of a blue whale's lungs exceeds three thousand liters, which is an absolute record among all known animals.
Such whales feed on tiny organisms that are found in the sea - krill. A blue whale can eat up to 40 million of these individuals per day. Most often, blue whales prefer to stay alone or in pairs. Such animals communicate using echolocation. The sound that blue whales make when communicating is similar to the sound of someone working. jet plane and is capable of spreading over enormous distances, more than one thousand kilometers.
Female blue whales give birth to their calves once every three years, following a previous pregnancy that lasts about a year. The weight of a newborn whale fluctuates around 3 tons.
The blue whale is a rather peaceful animal that has lost its warlike 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, a short neck and big head, as well as huge ears and thick limbs. The weight of a male can reach 6 tons, a length of about 7 meters and a height of just over 3 meters.
Female animals weigh almost half as much. Their height is about 2.5 meters and their length is about 5 meters. Adult elephants, due to their big size, most often do not have natural environment habitat, but small elephant calves are often subjected to bloodthirsty attacks from crocodiles, hyenas and leopards.
According to the latest statistical estimates, the population size of these animals in the wild is about 550 thousand individuals. The largest animal killed is African elephant, who was shot in Angola, his weight was more than 12 tons, which is a record.
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Hunting, destruction of forests and water bodies, pollution of nature with waste are factors that over the past 500 years have contributed to the extinction of almost 850 species of the animal world.
Main causes of species extinction
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
Species of animals that humans will no longer be able to see in nature:
Tyrannosaurus Rex was one of the largest sushi carnivores. It could reach 13 m in length, 5 m in height, and weigh 7 tons. Bipedal 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 scientists' hypotheses, the species, along with other dinosaurs, more than 60 million years ago was the result of a comet collision with the Earth.
The 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 to make room 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. It got its name for the stripes on its back and its habitat. Intensive hunting, diseases (introduced by humans into areas isolated from civilization), and the appearance of dogs are to blame for the extinction of the species. The species has been considered extinct since 1936, but even today there are people claiming to have seen living specimens.
The sea cow (Steller's 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. Adult sea cow was 8 m long and weighed about 3 tons. In just 27 years, the animals were exterminated by humans for their thick skin and fat.
Chinese river dolphin– died out as a result of pollution of river waters with waste from cargo and industrial ships. In 2006, the extinction of the species was registered.
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. The color resembled a Bengal.
The aurochs (extinct since 1627) is a primitive bull. Only aristocrats hunted them. When, in the 16th century, the threat of extinction loomed over the species, 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 in Germany they tried to revive the species, but without success.
The great auk (extinct since 1844) is flightless, reaching 75 cm in height and weighing about 5 kg. Representative of an extensive family, the only one before modern history.
The cave lion is the most large lion. The main part died out in glacial period, the remnants of the species were unable to recover after a series of disasters and finally disappeared 20 centuries ago.
Dodo (extinct at the end of the 17th century) – flightless bird from the island of Mauritius. It belonged to the family of pigeons, although it reached 1 m in height. The species was also exterminated by humans.
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Tip 4: What species of cat did domestic cats come from?
Domestic cats originated from wild representatives a species of forest cats, although most biologists still classify them as this species and consider them only a separate subspecies. The period of domestication dates back to the Neolithic Revolution, which occurred about 10 thousand years ago.
Domestic cats
Biologists have not yet reached 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 forest cat species, forming a separate subspecies along with such groups as the Omani cat, the steppe cat, the cat and others. Despite some differences in appearance and behavior, all these groups really belong to the same species, as they can interbreed and produce healthy offspring.
The same applies to domestic cats: once in wild conditions and having gone wild, they can find a mate among their wild fellows and continue the race, which allows them to be classified as the same species.
Nevertheless, some biologists propose to distinguish a separate species of domestic cats on the basis that they are separated by a huge gulf from their brothers: it is difficult to imagine that the sleek Sphynx or the blunt-nosed Persian cat belongs 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 predatory mammals that today live in Africa, northern regions Asia and Europe. These are fast, cunning, timid and aggressive animals.
They, in turn, descended from more ancient representatives of the cat genus and are closely related family ties with a 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 representatives of the human race. During the Neolithic Revolution, people learned to grow plants, and grain reserves began to attract rodents to people's homes. It is believed that the small mammalian pests were followed by predatory cats who hunted them.
Gradually, people began to cooperate: the neighborhood was beneficial to both. The domestication of these animals occurred 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.
Genetic studies have 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 that separated from other predators of this species about 130 thousand years ago. It was these animals that lived in the Middle East, it was them that were domesticated by their ancestors modern people.
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The liger, this little-known hybrid, is the largest cat in the world. On average, an individual liger weighs from 300 to 370 kg and can reach up to 4 meters in length and up to 2 meters in height. This huge cat is almost twice the size of the largest lion.
As you can guess from the name, a liger is a mixture of the two largest felines - lions and tigers, namely a male lion and a female tiger. What’s interesting is that if the father is a tiger and the mother is a lioness, then a completely different animal will be born, the so-called “tiger lion,” which is much smaller in size than a tiger. This happens because in male lions the genes responsible for growth are more active than in lionesses, but in tigers the opposite is true - genes that inhibit growth are less developed in females. That is why ligers grow to such incredible sizes; the gene that inhibits growth is suppressed in them. By the way, ligers grow throughout their lives.
Externally, ligers are more similar to tigers than to lions: they do not have a mane, and characteristic tiger stripes are visible on their bodies, albeit very pale.
You can meet ligers only in captivity, because... in nature, lions and tigers live in different geographical areas: lions are in Africa, and tigers are only in Asia. However, even in captivity these huge cats are very rare. Now there are about 25 individuals in the world. Like many other feline hybrids, ligers cannot procreate - almost all males are sterile, but most females are capable of bearing offspring.
Despite their enormous size and rather terrifying appearance, ligers are not aggressive and are even friendly towards humans. They love to play and be spoiled like domestic kittens. These cats also know how and love to swim.
The largest liger is a male named Hercules. He was born in 2004 in America. Now he weighs 420 kg, his body length is more than 4 meters, and his height is more than 2 m, while Hercules continues to grow.
Tigers, lions, pumas, panthers, cheetahs and leopards are considered the largest cats on planet Earth. In total, there are about 37 species of the cat family, and almost all are large. Big cats themselves are quite secretive animals; they avoid interaction with humans because of the danger that threatens them.
All representatives of the cat family differ from each other in color, behavior, character, habitat, etc. But there are amazing creatures that differ from others in their incredible size.
- strong muscular body;
- round head with a convex skull;
- bright color (red with black stripes).
- 1. excellent at climbing trees;
- 2. overcomes water obstacles;
- 3. eats fish;
- 4. sits in ambush for a long time;
- 5. hunts at night and alone;
- 6. drags food up a tree to protect it from other predators.
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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:
The tiger hunts alone. Its feeding territory is from 300 to 500 km. There was no observed hostility between the predators; if the amount of prey decreases, the tigers attack livestock and people. The predator hunts in the morning and evening; thanks to its excellent vision, it sees perfectly in the dark. It attacks from ambush, following the victim's tracks.
Tigers are very clean, unlike other representatives of the cat family. Before a hunt, he always bathes to reduce his scent, which will disturb him during the hunt.
People are the easiest prey for a tiger. But he can attack only when a person violates the predator’s territory or the tiger’s food supply runs out.
Currently, there are no cases of tigers attacking people. This is due to a decrease in the animal population. All subspecies of tigers are disappearing and are listed in the Red Book.
Amur (Siberian) tiger
Compared to other tigers, the fur of this representative is thicker and longer. On his stomach there is fat layer, protecting 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 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 prairie cats- lifestyle, character, possibility of taming
a lion
One of the most big cats Earth. This dangerous predator the weight reaches 250 kg, and the height at the withers is 123 cm. The length of the body is 170 - 250 cm. The structure is somewhat similar to a tiger. The color can be either dark brown or sand. A distinctive feature is the tassel at the end of the tail. The main decoration of a lion is its luxurious mane, which only males have.
Warns of hunting with its majestic roar. They are the only felines that live in prides. It is led by the leader of the pack. In hunting, males are in ambush, and females are the beaters of prey. It is almost impossible to get into a pride of lions. There is a certain number of animals in a flock, which is determined by 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, hind legs larger than the front ones, the head is small. Color - reddish or gray.
It lives in almost all areas, from plains to mountains. It is not particularly picky about food; it can feast on both ungulates and insects. There are known cases of attacks on people, mostly children and short people walking alone.
Hunting this predator does not affect its population in any way. This is due to the fact that the animal adapts perfectly to different conditions. Mainly lives in South America, in the western regions North America and in Yucatan.
Leopard
The leopard is the most insidious representative of the predatory cats. Although it differs in size from the lion and the tiger, it is not inferior to them in jaw power. The 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. Due to their spotted color, leopards are subject to attacks from poachers. Differs from other wild cats in that:
Panthers whose color is black are considered more aggressive. 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. Height at withers 63-75 cm, weight about 90 kg. The body length is up to 185 cm. By nature it is a solitary predator; jaguars carefully guard their territory. Males protect their family, while females raise the kittens until they reach adulthood.
They can feed on both crocodiles and livestock. Attacks on people are extremely rare. In most countries, this representative of the cat family is listed in the Red Book, but in Mexico it is allowed to be shot in limited quantities.
Irbis
It is also called snow beauty. Lives high in the mountains, descends to the foot only when pursued by herbivorous ungulates. Externally, the leopard looks like a leopard, but is more squat. It stands out for its unusual smoky-colored fur, strewn 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 Southern and Central Asia.
The diverse family of cats, numbering 37 species, is divided into two groups based on size: large and small. The classification is based not on the height of the animal at the withers, but on its features. anatomical structure. Therefore, biologists classify both representatives of the subfamily of large and small cats as the largest wild cats.
10.
Of all the cats that inhabit European forests, the largest is common lynx. The body weight of a male is about 29 kg, females are 4-6 kg lighter. The body length does not exceed 130 cm. Mammals live in 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 prohibited everywhere.
The animal with tasseled ears and a short tail seems cute and harmless. But under the spotted thick coat hides a skillful and cunning hunter, capable of smelling prey at a distance of 2 km. Its victims include hares, foxes, birds, rodents and small ungulates: roe deer and musk deer. 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. The snow leopard, which lives far from people, is the most poorly studied representative of the feline tribe. The muscular wild cat is found in the mountainous regions of Central Asia and Southern Siberia at an altitude of 1.5–5 thousand m above sea level. Short, thick paws 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 mountain peaks resembles a leopard in posture and size. The height of the male reaches 65 cm, weight - 55 kg. Fluffy gray-beige fur reliably protects from cold and camouflages in snowy gorges. Distinctive feature exterior - a meter-long 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 the weight of 65 kg, zoologists classify the cheetah as a subfamily of small cats. This is due to the peculiarities 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. Helps him in hunting a long tail, serving as a balancer and helping to quickly change the direction of movement.
In appearance, the sprinter of the fauna world resembles graceful dog Russian greyhound breed. Like dogs, giant cats do not retract their claws, cannot climb trees, do not ambush hunt, and do not tend to eat carrion. The sounds they make resemble abrupt yelps. Unlike most of their relatives, cheetahs quickly get used to humans. In Iran, India and Kievan Rus tamed animals often helped people hunt.
7. Leopard
Its muscular, elongated body, strong legs and excellent eyesight make the leopard an ideal killer. Chasing prey, the powerful flexible cat accelerates to 58 km/h and makes jumps 7 m long. With a body weight of up to 66 kg, it is capable of killing prey 3 times its weight. The hunter always lifts the desired trophy up a tree for the subsequent meal.
The size of the predator directly depends on geographical features range. Thus, four-legged inhabitants of open spaces grow up to 75 cm, inhabitants of forests - up to 67 cm. Decorated with a spotted pattern, short, thick fur lies tightly to the body. Belly and inner side the legs are light yellow, the rest of the body is golden brown. Individuals with a black color are called panthers.
6.
This representative of the cat family is a champion in the number of names. Residents different countries the puma is familiar 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.
Puma habitat area - forested areas and mountainous regions of America. The silhouette of the predator resembles a small lioness. The height of the golden beauty is 60–85 cm, weight is about 90 kg. A distinctive character trait of the puma is patience. Waiting for prey, it sits in ambush for a long time, without giving away its presence. Once caught in 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 weight from 68 to 135 kg, is painted with bright patterns - black spots and rings. Intricate colors help to perfectly camouflage among bushes and trees. The jaguar has no equal in pursuing prey. The hardy mammal covers tens of kilometers every day, it swims well and runs fast. The hunter kills with one leap - a blow from a powerful paw can break the victim's spine.
The range of jaguars is Central and South America. The Olmec Indians inhabited these lands in the 2nd century BC. e., they believed that people and huge spotted cats have common ancestors. Today, the graceful animal, once revered by man, is in danger of extinction and is listed in the Red Book.
4. Leo
There are no two absolutely identical lions on the planet. The “facial” features of each animal are unique and belong to only one individual. The body length of the royal individuals of the fauna world 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 acuity of which is 6 times greater than that of a human. Running is not the best strong point predator. At short distances, the giant cat accelerates to 60 km/h, but after 200 m it gets tired and stops pursuing its prey. Lack of stamina forces the animal to get as close as possible to the victim and in a swift jump deliver a fatal blow. Lionesses are lighter and faster than males, and therefore more successful in hunting.
3.
The royal representative of the panther genus lives in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China. Bengal tiger. In Russia its population is 5 individuals. Predatory mammal is one of the largest cats in the world. Resident height tropical forests reaches 115 cm, weight - 275 kg. A terrifying roar can be heard at a distance of 3 km. The deadly fangs grow up to 10 cm. The record weight of a male killed in an Indian forest in 1967 was 388.7 kg.
Among the Bengal tigers there are amazing creatures whose snow-white fur is covered with brown stripes. All white individuals have one ancestor - the male Mohan, who was 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 the Russian Federation, the animal is found only in northeast 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 withers - 110–120 cm;
- weight - 167–280 kg;
- length of fangs - 8 cm.
Like all cats (except lions), Amur tigers lead a solitary lifestyle, defending their territory from competitors. The animal hunts alone. He is an absolute predator - a huge hungry cat can even attack a bear.
Now the number of animals does not exceed 800 individuals, half of which are kept in zoos. The endangered species is listed in the Red Book, and its extermination is punishable by law. In China, killing a striped animal is punishable by death.
1.
The result of the love between the tigress Isla and the lion Arthur, who shared a common enclosure at the American theme park Jungle Island, became a kitten, which was later destined to top the ranking of the largest cats on the planet. Having reached maturity, the liger Hercules surpassed his parents in size. His height is 186 cm, weight - 410 kg. Standing on his hind legs, the giant reaches the roof of a double-decker bus. The gaping mouth is as wide as the shoulder girdle of an adult man.
Hercules is not the only representative of the hybrid genus. In 1973, the Guinness Book of Records added a record of a giant weighing 798 kg from South Africa. natural park. In 2004, a female was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo - the result of crossing African lion and the Bengal tigress. IN natural conditions it is impossible to meet a liger - tigers and lions have different places a habitat.
It's hard to believe, but one of the most formidable predators in the world is the lion and little kitty belong to the same cat family. They are easy to recognize by their natural grace, retractable claws, and short, flattened muzzle.
Tiger – striped perfection
This is the largest wild cat in the world. In size, the tiger is second only to the bear. The weight of a tiger can reach 250 kg, height at the withers is up to 1.15 cm. The body length of an adult predator is more than 3 meters. The largest tiger was killed in the middle of the last century in India, its weight was 388 kg. Currently, only six subspecies remain, the habitat of which is concentrated in Asia.
A strong, muscular, elongated body, a more developed front part, a round head with a convex skull and a bright striped color - this is a brief portrait of a tiger. The most common color is red (of varying intensity) with black stripes, but there are also individuals with white and gold colors. Such unusual colors are associated with genetic 
violations.
The tiger is a territorial animal and always hunts alone. The feeding territory of one animal is from 300 to 500 km. Tigers rarely quarrel with each other; if the amount of prey decreases, they begin to attack livestock and people. Possessing excellent night vision, the tiger prefers to hunt in the morning or evening. The tiger prefers to follow the tracks of its prey or wait for it in ambush, for example, near a pond. Unlike the lion, the tiger is very concerned about cleanliness; before going out to hunt, he always bathes or rolls out in the snow to fight off the smell that could scare off the prey.
A tiger can attack people if the boundaries of its territory are violated or if the food supply decreases. People are easy prey for this predator.
Now, due to a decrease in population size, such cases occur extremely rarely, and a tiger, when meeting a person, prefers to retreat. But before, attacks by man-eating tigers were recorded more than once. The Bengal tigress is widely known and has killed more than 400 people. It was suggested that a tiger, having tasted human flesh, would continue to prefer this type of prey.
All tiger subspecies are classified as endangered and are listed in the Red Book. Tiger hunting territories are protected by the state. A breed of cat was developed that resembles a miniature tiger, called the Toyger.
Amur (Siberian) tiger
In the photo: the largest wild cat in the world - the Amur tiger.
Serious and beautiful predator, which has thicker and longer fur compared to other subspecies. The only one of the tigers that has a layer of fat on its belly to protect it from the cold. The largest population of these animals lives in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories; it numbers about 500 individuals. In neighboring countries, the number of this tiger is very small due to its valuable fur and ingredients valued in eastern alternative medicine.
Even in the last century, the number of Amur tigers was so great that they were ordered to hunt special units. And in less than 50 years, the number of this predator has decreased to 200 individuals. Now, thanks to the efforts of biologists, the population number has increased.
However, at the moment the Amur beauty is under threat of extinction.
Lion is the king of the animals
A dangerous predator who is not alien to nobility and greatness. The weight of a lion can reach 250 kg, and the height at the withers is about 123 cm. The length of the body ranges from 170 to 250 cm. In its structure, a lion is very similar to a tiger. Color varies from dark brown to sand. Lions are the only ones from the family of big wild cats to have a small tassel at the tip of their tail. Females differ from males not only in their smaller size, but also in the absence of a mane, the main decoration of a lion. It's not for nothing that they call him 
gentleman of the world of predators. His proud, majestic demeanor and noble warning of the start of the hunt with a royal roar make one admire and admire this animal from afar.
They are the only ones from the family of big wild cats that do not live alone, but in peculiar families - prides. Typically, a pride includes females, cubs up to three years old and several males. The pride is led by a leader, an experienced and strong male. During the hunt, females usually serve as beaters, while males wait in ambush. It is almost impossible for an outside lion to get into the pride; an exception is made only in the case of a female vacancy. As a rule, the number of prides is the same and is regulated, obviously, depending on the food supply.
The lion's extant range is in Africa, with a small population in India.
Leopard (panther) - the most insidious of wild cats of prey
A dangerous and unpredictable predator from the cat family. In terms of jaw power, it is not inferior to its larger counterparts, the tiger and lion, although it is not as impressive in size. The height at the withers of an adult leopard is no more than 80 cm, and its weight is up to 100 kg. The body length is from 120 to 195 cm. The body of this animal is elongated, light, somewhat compressed at the sides. The leopard has very beautiful spotted fur, thanks to which the leopard population has greatly depleted. 
It climbs trees well, although it prefers to hunt on the ground. An excellent swimmer, he easily overcomes water obstacles and does not disdain fish. It can sit in ambush for a long time and lie in wait for prey. The natives of the area where leopards live are much more afraid of them than of their larger relatives. They are able to attack from trees too quickly and unexpectedly and misfires rarely occur. Leopards drag their prey up a tree to protect it from other predators. These predators hunt at night and always alone.
The black-colored individuals that appear in litters, called panthers, are considered more aggressive than the normally colored leopard. They received this coloring from the increased content of the hormone melatonin.
Jaguar - America's largest wild cat
This predatory inhabitant of the jungles of Central and South America is very similar to a leopard, but much more massive and larger. Height at the withers is 63-76 cm, and weight is approximately 90 kg. The body length of a jaguar can reach 185 cm. This representative of the felines is a solitary hunter, and both males and females carefully guard 
their territory from their own kind and from other predators. Only during weddings do jaguars gather in packs; fights between males rarely occur - the female makes the choice. She also raises the kittens until they are old enough to defend their territory.
The jaguar's prey can include caimans, crocodiles, peccaries, snakes, turtles, monkeys and other small and not so small inhabitants of the jungle and reservoirs. This predator does not disdain livestock either. Cases of attacks on people are rare.
In many countries, the jaguar is listed in the Red Book and hunting it is strictly prohibited. In others, such as Mexico, limited shooting is permitted.
Puma (mountain lion)
America's second largest predatory wild cat. The height at the withers is 60-90 cm, the body length is up to 180 cm, and the weight is no more than 100 kg. The body of the puma is elongated, the legs are short, strong, the hind legs are more massive. The head is small. The color of pumas ranges from reddish to gray. 
Cougars are found in almost all types of terrain: in the mountains, in forests and on the plains. The cougar is a solitary night hunter and its prey is numerous ungulates; it does not disdain birds, fish and insects. This predator does not distinguish between wild herbivores and livestock and eagerly kills those that come to hand. Moreover, the cougar often kills more animals than it can eat. There are known cases of attacks on people. As a rule, children or short people walking alone are attacked.
Despite the incessant hunting and narrowing of the habitat, the population of pumas is sufficient and large, since this predator easily adapts to other living conditions.
Pumas are found throughout South America, the western regions of North America and the Yucatan.
An unusually beautiful leopard with smoky gray fur with black spots. The snow leopard lives high in the mountains and occasionally descends to the foot, following the migration of ungulate herbivores. In appearance this strong cat resembles a leopard, but squat and smaller. The body of the snow leopard is stretched, slightly raised in the sacrum area. The height of the withers is no more than 60 cm, and the body length ranges from 103 to 130 cm. Main habitat snow leopard- This is South and Central Asia.
The snow leopard rarely attacks humans or livestock. This can only happen if the cubs are protected. Snow leopards live in pairs and hunt and raise their young together.
They feed, train and raise their young, and the female mercilessly plucks fur from her belly to insulate her den.
Currently, there are no more than 7 thousand snow leopards worldwide. Unfortunately, snow leopards practically do not reproduce in captivity, so the population of these magnificent animals continues to decline. It is almost impossible to meet this rare endangered species in the wild; the snow leopard carefully avoids people.
Cheetah is the fastest cat of prey
The cheetah intricately combines both canine and feline features. Short body, long slender legs, like canines, but the paws, color and ability to climb trees are from cats. Scientists have long bred the cheetah as a separate species of large cat, but according to the latest molecular studies, the cheetah still belongs to the subfamily of small cats. And the dimensions of this cat are as follows: height at the withers is up to 75 cm, body length is up to 140 cm, and weight reaches 65 kg. The color of the cheetah is yellow-sand with black dots scattered throughout the skin. 
Females, except when raising puppies, hunt alone. And males can form groups, usually consisting of littermates. In such a pack they defend territory and females from other cheetahs. Unlike most cats, they are diurnal predators. Large, flat spaces eliminate the possibility of cover, and cheetahs use a completely different strategy. They approach the victim at a distance of 10 meters and then make a quick dash, the speed of which can reach up to 115 km/h. But cheetahs can move at such a rapid pace for no more than 400 meters. So, if the prey managed to escape, the cheetah will simply rest and go look for a less resourceful victim.
The history of the cheetah and its service to man is interesting. In ancient times, this animal was widely used in hunting wild animals. Devotion, honesty and ingenuity were highly valued by hunters from various countries: Byzantium, France, India and Rus'. Cheetahs were not only excellent beaters, but were also easily tamed and showed great affection for their owners. They were led on leashes, like dogs, and played with without fear of injury. An image of a cheetah (in Rus' they were called pardus) is located on the Hagia Sophia. But at some point, perhaps after the arrival of the British in India, who loved to organize sport hunting for cheetahs, they became simply predators.
Unfortunately, cheetah numbers are declining at an alarming rate. The main factor in the disappearance of the population is the plowing of savannas, the natural habitats of cheetahs.
IN Lately Closely related mixing due to the small number of animals also contributed to the causes of extinction. On this moment There are no more than 4,500 cheetahs in the world.
In custody
Human activities have caused irreparable damage to the population of all wild cats of prey. Some species are lost forever, others are constantly under threat of complete extinction. If this continues, then there will be only one predator left on Earth - man.
