What is the difference between a jaguar and a leopard? At first glance one could easily make the mistake of confusing the two, so I’ve decided to put together a comparison for you. This comparison goes beyond the looks, diving more deeply into the design, make up and behavior of these magnificent predators Distribution The jaguar is found in the Americas.

JAGUAR VS LEOPARD

Historically they occurred as far north as California, however the United States population is largely extinct. It extends south through Central America and into Argentina and is known as a New World Cat. Leopard populations are found from China and India to the Middle East and down into Africa. It is referred to as an Old World Cat.

Size The weight of the female leopard varies between 20–60 kg, While female jaguar varies between 85–90 kg. Male leopard weighs between 40–80kg, While a jaguar male can reach up to 110-120 kg. The jaguar is the 3rd largest cat in the world after tiger and lion. Pattern Jaguars tend to have larger rosettes with spots in the middle.

The leopard has plain rosettes with no central spot in the middle. Life expectancy Leopards: 12-15 in the wild, although there are a number of cases of females reaching over 17. Jaguars: uncertain in the wild, but thought to be around 13-15. Strength The jaguar steals the show here. Pound for pound this cat is phenomenally strong.

With the ability to deliver up to 2000 pounds of force, this makes jaguars the most powerful of the great cats even more so than lions and tigers. For example jaguars have a fourth most powerful bite in animal kingdom. while the tiger and the lion are ranked in ninth and tenth. The head The shape and size of the head is very different between the two cats.

Due to the different styles of killing so the jaguar has a much broader forehead and wider jaw. The Body Jaguars have a large barrel like abdomen. It almost always looks as if they are pregnant or well fed. Leopards, on the other hand, often have a very slight build. Jaguars also have a shorter, stockier build than leopards.

Tree climbing Most people also believe that jaguars do not really climb trees. They are cats and thus more than capable of doing so but most they only climb trees when under pressure and when they were confronted by people or dogs. Jaguars are not as agile in trees as leopards and they certainly do not spend as much time in the trees, but they are fully capable of doing so.

From a design point of view it is interesting to look at the tail length. The leopard is very arboreal and has a long tail to aid in balance. The jaguar has a much shorter tail, an indicator that tree climbing is less important in its life. The reason: lack of predators. Leopards have to hoist their kills to avoid other predators such as lion, hyena and wild dog.

Jaguars are the apex predator of the Americas and so have no reason to need to carry kills into trees. They simply outcompete everything else on the ground! Water Leopards do not like water! They will do everything in their power to avoid having to go through it. Whereas the jaguar, like the tiger, seems to be content with spending lengthy periods of time in the water.

Jaguars in the Pantanal do not have a choice as they live in a wetland. Territories This is one of the least known aspects of a jaguars lifestyle. There is quite a difference with regards to territory that we know of though. Leopards are very territorial and will actively patrol, demarcate and fight for land. They will not permit other leopards moving into their area.

Jaguars are less territorial and utilize more of a relaxed ‘home-range’. There is large overlap between jaguar’s home ranges and these are not nearly as actively managed and patrolled. Recent studies from Brazil have shown male jaguars to not show strong aggression or territorial defence against other jaguars. A jaguar will have a ‘core’ area in which he/she may be the only cat, but this area is small relative to the land used by that individual.

Killing Style Leopards kill using a suffocating bite. This bite will usually be around the throat, or may in fact be around the mouth. The jaguar prefers to use one of two methods: 1) killing by canines piercing through prey’s skull and 2) By severing the spinal column/backbone with a powerful bite and breaking the neck. Both species of cat prefer to hunt by stalking and ambush rather then lengthy chases.