Lions tend to hang out in grasslands and the savannah so that they can hunt easily, but they can also live in deserts or rainforests. These African wild cats are considered Vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN. Lion populations in the wild are shrinking, and today they’re mainly only found in sub-Saharan Africa and a few national parks, like Kruger National Park in South Africa and Serengeti in Tanzania. The first group includes the Asiatic lion and those found in West and North Africa, while the second is found in East and Southern Africa. Once broken up into more subspecies, lions are now categorized into the “northern lion” and the “southern lion.” However, these two subspecies of lions have some overlap. They are powerful beasts!Īfrican lions are known for their deep chest and regal manes that the males have. Despite being smaller than tigers, the males can weigh up to 420 pounds, with females around 280 pounds. The next largest type of big cat is the “king of the jungle,” the lion. Lion ( Panthera leo) The lion is by far the most famous type of big cat Continental tiger: Panthera tigris tigrisĢ.Sunda Island tiger (subspecies of the extinct Javan tiger): Panthera tigris sondaica.Tiger fact: A group of tigers is called an ambush or streak. Namely, the stripe pattern is unique, like a fingerprint. Each tiger has distinct physical characteristics. Rather than purring, they make other noises, including roars that can be heard two miles away. Unlike the furry cats living in your home, tigers love to swim. If successful, the female tiger will produce multiple cubs that are born blind. When it comes time to reproduce, the animals partake in a mating ritual that involves vocalization and circling each other. Individuals will claim and then protect a territory that ranges from 6 to 60 square miles, the larger end of the spectrum being for males. Tigers are solitary hunters, choosing to live on their own. The key aspects of their natural habitat are water sources and a large enough territory to find plenty of prey. These Asian wild cats‘ habitats vary from tropical broadleaf forests and freshwater swamp forests in Sumatra to the boreal forest and grasslands of Russia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. They only inhabit about 7 percent of their original habitat distribution, including India, Indonesia, China, and Southeast Asia. A sad fact about tigers is that there are more in captivity than remain in their natural habitats. ![]() Unfortunately, only about 3,000-4,500 individuals are left, and the IUCN has listed them as Endangered. There were originally eight subspecies of tigers, but today only two remain – the smaller Sunda tigers and the larger, lighter-colored Continental tigers. ![]() In addition, tigers have a muscular body covered in vibrant orange color overlaid with black stripes and white markings.ĭespite what many people think, tigers are actually the strongest and largest of any cat, weighing up to 680 pounds. Tigers are one of the most unique and majestic big cat species. Here are all the types of big cats species ordered by maximum reported weight. Depending on the organization, the list of big cats often includes the cheetah and the cougar as well. However, many organizations classify the types of big cats differently. All of these cats in this genus, except for the snow leopard, can roar. Most types of big cats remaining today are members of the genus Panthera. However, only four of the cats on our list have this capability – tigers, lions, jaguars, and leopards. This special skill comes from a piece of cartilage in their voice box called larynx that runs along the hyoid bones, which is flexible and allows them to produce a bellowing roar. Instead, what was originally the main factor that distinguished a species as a type of big cat was the ability to roar. Many of these spectacular species are considered endangered or threatened, meaning they run the risk of becoming extinct if we don’t take action immediately.īy learning more about these big cat species, we can understand them better and hopefully do our part to encourage the growth of their populations.ĭid you know? All big cats are wild cats, but not all wild cats are big cats! What Is a Big Cat?Ī big cat is much more than an overgrown house cat! In fact, big cats can’t even purr as their little relatives can. But there are actually seven different types of big cats prowling around our planet.īig cats are some of the largest and most fierce apex predators in the world, but there is one species that threatens them – humans. When we think about the types of big cats in the world, we often think about lions and tigers, two of the most famous species.
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