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With their killer instinct and feline prowess, the big-cat family represents some of the world's most impressive animals. All of them are under threat from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict.

Here is our expert guide to big cats, including how to identify each species and where they live in the wild.

How many species of big cats are there?

From the biggest to the smallest, there are 38 cat species found worldwide. The definition of which species are big cats varies between different organisations, with some considering just the five species in the Panthera genus to be big cats, and others including pumas (also known as mountain lions and cougars) and cheetahs.

For this guide, we have focussed on the five species in the Panthera genus: tiger, jaguar, lion, leopard, and snow leopard.

Are big cats endangered?

The five big cat species have all been assessed and categorised by the IUCN Red List. The big cat species most threatened with extinction is the tiger which is listed as Endangered.

Tiger (P. tigris) - Endangered

Lion (P. l eo) - Vulnerable

Jaguar (P. onca) - Near Threatened

Leopard (P. pardus) - Vulnerable

Snow leopard (P. uncia) - Vulnerable

Further assessment and classification work has been done on a number of subspecies and even on subpopulations. For example, of the two subspecies of lion, the Asiatic subspecies and the West Africa subpopulation of the African subspecies are listed as Endangered and Critically Endangered respectively. Some subspecies are already extinct, such as the Javan and Caspian tigers.

Why do big cats usually stalk and pounce?

Hunting consumes a huge amount of energy, and it is much more calorie-efficient for cats to sit, wait, stalk and pounce rather than travel long distances over difficult terrain, says BBC Wildlife contributor Karen Emslie.

Feline energy expenditure has been the subject of research by scientists from the University of California, who developed a high-tech collar equipped with GPS and accelerometers to track and monitor wild mountain lions.

They found that not only do the cats use the most energy-efficient form of hunting and stalking, but they also adjust the power of their pounce depending on the size of their prey.

The team also studied captive mountain lions and discovered that, despite their strength, they lack a high aerobic capacity, and therefore have a slow walking pace. This enables them to conserve energy for killer bursts of speed and power pounces.

Why can only big cats roar?

There are four big cats that can roar: lion, tiger, leopard and jaguar - all of which belong to the genus Panthera, says Stephen Mills.

In these species, the epihyal bone, part of the voice box, is replaced by a ligament. This can be stretched, creating a larger sound-producing passage and thus a wider range of pitch. The more the ligament extends, the lower the sound generated when air passes across the vocal cords. In addition, the cords are large, unbroken and fleshy, which produces deeper sounds.

Why can't cheetahs roar?

The bones of the cheetah's voice box form a fixed structure, with divided vocal cords that vibrate with both in and out breaths. This structure is the same for all the 'small' cats. While this design enables these cats to purr continuously, it limits the range of other sounds and prevents them from being able to roar.

Just because cheetahs are relatively large, that doesn't mean they can roar - they still have small-cat anatomy despite their size, and it's exactly the same for pumas/mountain lions.

Do big cats purr?

Big cats don't purr. Purring and roaring are mutually exclusive, so lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars are all incapable of purring, while every other cat can purr but not roar.

Are there any exceptions?

Interestingly, the snow leopard - also a member of Panthera along with lions etc - cannot roar. Its vocal cords lack an all-important layer of fatty, elasticated tissue, which, in other big cats, gives the vocalisations an uneven rumble that emerges as a roar.

Some scientists therefore argue that the snow leopard deserves its own genus: Uncia.

Which big cat has the strongest bite?

The jaguar has the strongest bite of any big cat relative to its size. Research by Adam Hartstone-Rose and colleagues at the University of South Carolina, who compared the bite forces of nine different cat species, reveals that a jaguar's bite force is only three-quarters as strong as a tiger's bite force.

However, given that jaguars are considerably smaller (the body mass of the individual in the study was only half that of the tiger), relatively speaking their bite is stronger.

"If you had to choose, you'd want to be bitten by a jaguar, not a lion or a tiger. But pound for pound, jaguars pack a stronger punch," says Adam.

"The strength of the jaguar's bite is due to the arrangement of its jaw muscles, which, relative to weight, are slightly stronger than those of other cats. In addition - also relative to weight - its jaws are slightly shorter, which increases the leverage for biting."

These two modifications, though minor, combine to give the jaguar the strongest relative bite force. Indeed, a jaguar can bite straight through the skull of its prey, and pierce the thick skin of a caiman with ease.

How many subspecies of lion are there?

There is only one species of lion, which is known scientifically as Panthera leo. There are two recognised subspecies, the African lion ( P. l. leo) and the Asiatic lion ( P. l. persica).

Some taxonomists have proposed a different split of the subspecies - with P. l. leo covering lions in Asian and west, central and north Africa, and P. l. melanochaita for lions in south and east Africa.

Why do lions have manes?

Male lions boast impressive manes, conveying a range of information about their owners status among the pack. Long dark manes indicate that the lion is in peak condition.

The darker the mane, the more attractive to females. However, long dark manes can also lead to lower sperm counts in males when temperatures rise.

Tigers are the biggest cat in the wild. Male tigers can grow to be over 3m long and weigh up to 300kg, while female tigers tend to be a bit smaller.

How many subspecies of tiger are there?

There is only one species of tiger, but there are six extant (living) subspecies: Siberian, South China, Sumatran, Indochinese, Malayan and Bengal.

Where do tigers live?

Tigers are relatively adaptable and historically lived across huge swathes of Asia. There are now very few left in South-East Asia, but they're doing relatively well in India, Nepal, Russia and Bhutan.

Tiger habitats vary by region, with the larger tigers of colder northern regions (like the Siberian tiger) living in the brutal taiga, while smaller tigers from warmer regions can happily live in arid forests, tropical rainforests and flooded swamplands and mangroves.

The jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas and the third-largest in the world (after the lion and tiger). Its head-body length can reach around 240cm, and its shoulder height up to 75cm.

How many subspecies of jaguar are there?

There is uncertainty as to whether the jaguar should be split into subspecies, and if so, how many.

Where do jaguars live?

Today, the jaguar is found in South and Central America, from Mexico to northern Argentina. The species' range formerly spread over the US border into the southern states of America, but had become wiped out there by the 1940s due to hunting. There have been sporadic sightings in Arizona in recent years, however.

While jaguars do live in drier regions, they're normally strongly associated with water, and they thrive in rainforests like the Amazon and in dense swamplands and wetlands that provide plenty of cover for stalking prey.

Marked with rosettes similar to the jaguar, leopards are a distinctive big cat species. They are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal wildlife trade, and loss of prey.

How many species of leopard are there?

There is one species of leopard, which is split into nine recognised subspecies due to genetic analysis.

Where are leopards found?

Leopards are found in parts of Africa and Asia. It is believed that the species occurs in only 25% of its historic range, having become locally extinct in a number of countries including Singapore, Kuwait, Jordan, Tunisia, and Morocco.

Snow leopards live in harsh, snowy, rugged alpine regions in central and south Asia. They can be found at elevations between 3,000 to 5,000 metres across a total of 12 different countries.

How many species of snow leopard are there?

There is one species of snow leopard, and according to the IUCN Red List, two subspecies have been named based on morphology but have not been confirmed by genetic analysis.

How big is a snow leopard?

Snow leopards are around 75-150cm from head to the base of the tail, with the tail adding on another 80-105cm, which makes them smaller than the other big cats. Snow leopards generally weigh between 25-55kg, although some large males have been recorded weighing up to 75kg.
Main image: Two young lion cubs. © Jochen Van de Perre/Getty

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Big cat guide: how to identify each species and where to see

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With their killer instinct and feline prowess, the big-cat family represents some of the world's most impressive animals. All of them are under threat from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. From the biggest to the smallest, there are 38 cat species found worldwide.

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Let's learn big cats of the world with this educational video for children. Kiddopedia team brings big cats for children to your home so that they can learn their sounds and cubs. As a results, this video is an excellent educational material for parents who want to teach big cats for children.

Big cats definition

Big cats is a term commonly used in reference to large wild cats. The big cats species include the different types of big cats worldwide, from tigers (the largest big cats) to snow leopards and cheetahs (the smallest big cats). Tiger, lion, leopard and cheetah are the famous big cats in Africa.

Big cats of the world in increasing size

Cheetah - Acinonyx jubatus : 30-45 kg (99 lbs)

Snow Leopard (Ounce) - Uncia uncia : 35-55 kg (121 lbs)

Leopard - Panthera pardus : 25-80 kg (176 lbs)

Puma (Cougar, Mountain Lion, Catamount) - Puma concolor : 30-85 kg (187 lbs)

Jaguar - Panthera onca : 40-100 kg (220 lbs)

Lion - Panthera leo : 110-225 kg (495 lbs)

Tiger- Panthera tigris : 65-305 kg (671 lbs)

The big cats habitat

The big cats in the wild live in different parts of the world. Tigers live in Asia. Lions are in Sub-Saharan Africa, Gir Forest in India. However, unfortunately, they are extinct in former range of Southeast Europe, Middle East, much of Asia, and North America. Jaguars reside in the Americas, from the southern United States to northern Argentina. Leopards live in Asia and Africa. Snow leopards live in the mountains of central and south Asia. The fastest animal on earth Cheetah can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa and Iran. Puma, which is also called as cougar, panther or mountain lion, are found in North and South America.

Kiddopedia team has made a mini big cats documentary for you and your children, to learn about the big cats. We want to bring you the wild cats of HD quality videos combined with big cat sounds. We included the cubs of these wild animals, as well as scenes of big cats purring and meowing.

List of animals in this big cats video for kids: Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard, Puma, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Tiger Cubs, Lion Cubs, Jaguar , Cubs, Leopard Cubs, Puma Cubs, Snow Leopard Cubs, Cheetah Cubs.

Please have a look our Animal facts page for more educational videos about the big cats such as lions.

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Big Cats for Children - Learn Big Cats of the World - Kiddopedia

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Let's learn big cats of the world with this educational video for children. Kiddopedia team brings big cats for children to your home so that they can learn their sounds and cubs. As a results, this video is an excellent educational material for parents who want to teach big cats for children.

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The big cats are the four members of the genus panthera. These cats are unique not only in sheer size, but also in their ability to roar. A specialized larynx and a unique part of the throat called a hyoid apparatus allows for the production of a true, deep roaring sound.

While the cougar, cheetah, snow leopard and clouded leopard are also fairly large, and occasionally included in this group, their larynx creates more of a combination hiss/snarl sound without the bass tone of a real roar.

The snow leopard has been included in the genus panthera since 2008, but there is some controversy over moving them from their own genus, uncia, and many biologists still insist the snow leopard is a separate genus.

Just as scientific folks debated for years whether a panda was a bear or not, this discussion may have nine lives as well.

Other differences in the genus panthera involve skull and eye-socket structure and variations in life-cycle and reproductive system. - Big Cat Facts

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the tiger

Native to Asia, the tiger is the largest of these four felids, with the lion a close second.

Although lions can, occasionally, be taller or longer than tigers, average overall height, weight, and sheer mass rest firmly in the tigers favor, particularly the Siberian tiger, which can be 800 pounds and 11ft long!

Tigers are responsible for more human deaths than any other big cat. The Bengal tiger has been found to be particularly lethal, probably because there is so much human encroachment on their home range.

There are several subspecies of tiger, all of which are endangered - some critically.

The leopard and the jaguar

Leopards and jaguars look alot alike, but they live half a world apart. The smallest of the big cats, leopards are native to Africa and Asia. At 90 to 120 pounds, they are significantly smaller than lions and tigers, and occasionally even fall prey to them.

The jaguar is native to South and Central America, and once roamed the southern United States. Jaguars are quite a bit larger than leopards, averaging 200 to 265 pounds. Both these big cats are buff to yellow to orange in color with black or dark brown spots in a classic "rosette" pattern.

Black individuals occur fairly regularly, the result of a melanism gene. The spots can still be seen on the black fur as subtle shading. Both black leopards and black jaguars are popularly called black panthers, although they are not a separate species, and black individuals will occur side by side in the same litter with normally colored cubs.

Leopards and jaguars are difficult to tell apart if the location is unknown The jaguar is generally a stouter animal with a proportionately rounder head, fuller cheeks and smaller eyes and ears. If you study photos of the two animals with these differences in mind, you can learn to identify them relatively easily.

It is sometimes stated that the leopard does not have a dot at the center of the circles of dots on its coat known as "rosettes", or that the center of the rosette on the jaguar is darker than the body color, but both jaguars and leopards vary greatly in this regard, and coat pattern is not a reliable means of identification.

the lion

Native to Africa and a tiny portion of India, the lion is the most unique big cat. Adult male lions display a full ruff of shaggy hair around their heads known as a mane.

This is not just special for a big cat, it is very rare among any mammals to have such obvious physical distinction between the sexes.

The lion is also a very social cat with an interesting and complicated pride dynamic that in many ways is much more canine than feline. Pride members hunt together like a pack of wolves, and all share in the raising of cubs.

Finally, the King of Beasts also has the longest larynx - and thus the loudest roar of the four roaring "big cats" - naturally!

a few more big cat facts

The "big cats" are the tiger, lion, leopard and jaguar - all members of the genus Panthera.

In 2008 the snow leopard was moved into the panthera genus but the move is controversial.

The snow leopard does not have the ability to roar.

All four of the roaring big cats are endangered species.

These four massive felines are the only cats who can truly roar.

They can roar thanks to a specially designed larynx (a part of the throat).

The African lion has the longest larynx - and the loudest roar.

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Big Cat Facts - Animal Facts Encyclopedia

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The big cats are the four members of the genus panthera. These cats are unique not only in sheer size, but also in their ability to roar. A specialized larynx and a unique part of the throat called a hyoid apparatus allows for the production of a true, deep roaring sound.

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Big Cats for Kids - Animals for Kids - Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Jaguar and more

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This page contains information about jaguars, and includes a list of jaguar facts for kids. This article is part of our Rainforest Animals series.

The jaguar's size, strength and expert hunting ability means that it's an apex predator in the rainforests of South and Central America. Read on to find out more about this deadly rainforest cat...

Jaguars And The Cat Family

The jaguar is a large, powerfully-built cat. Its coat is pale orange and marked with rings called "rosettes". Within each rosette are one or more smaller black spots.

Jaguars are members of the cat family Felidae - the same family to which your pet cat belongs! Members of this family are known as felids.

Jaguars belong to a subfamily of Felidae called Pantherinae. Other members of this subfamily include lions, tigers, leopards and snow leopards.

Jaguars are the third-largest cat species: only tigers and lions are bigger. The jaguar is the biggest cat native to the Americas.

The jaguar belongs to a group of felids known as the "big cats". You can find out more about big cats on this page: What Is A Big Cat?

Jaguar Information

Jaguars are solitary creatures, each living in its own area, known as a "territory". Jaguars protect their territories from other jaguars.

Female jaguars give birth to 1 - 4 kittens at a time, and cubs live with their mothers for 2 or more years before they go off on their own.

Jaguars are powerfully built, and are excellent climbers and swimmers.

Jaguar Vs Leopard... vs Panther?

Jaguars and leopards are very similar. Both are large, spotted, big cats. However, Jaguars are bigger and more heavily built. Jaguars' rosettes are bigger, less densely spaced, and have a central spot which leopards don't have.

Jaguars live in the Americas, and leopards are found in Africa and Asia.

Some jaguars (and leopards) have markings that are so dense that the animals looks completely black. These animals are known as 'panthers', but they are in actual fact just jaguars or leopards, and not a separate species.

Where Do Jaguars live?

Jaguars are found in North, Central, and South America. Jaguars are even occasionally seen in Arizona, in the United States!

However, jaguars are mainly forest creatures, and prefer the dense rainforests of South America. They are also found in wetlands and grasslands.

Jaguars are most numerous in the Amazon Basin (the area around the Amazon river) and The Pantanal - a large wetland area in Brazil and parts of Bolivia and Paraguay.

Jaguars often live near water. Unlike other cats, jaguars are excellent swimmers, and can swim across rivers. They will also approach ambush prey from the water.

Watch the video below to see how at home a jaguar is in the water.

How Big Are Jaguars?

The length of a jaguar's body is between 4 - 6 feet, and their tails add another 20 - 30″. The jaguar's tail is the shortest of any big cat.

Jaguars weigh between 100 to 250 lbs (45 - 113 kg). Males are larger than females, and have been recorded to weigh as much as 348 lbs (158 kg).

Jaguars are 25 to 30 in (63 to 76 cm) tall.

What Does A Jaguar Eat?

Jaguars are carnivores (meat eaters). Their diet includes many kinds of animals, including fish, birds, caimans, deer, monkeys, capybaras and tapirs. Jaguars are also known to eat turtles, and their jaws are strong enough to break open turtles' shells. Jaguars generally prefer larger prey.

Jaguar Hunting Methods

Jaguars prefer to stalk or ambush their prey, rather than pursue it. Jaguars are known to climb trees in order to ambush their prey.

In fact, jaguars are known as one of the best ambush hunters of all! If you are in the rainforest, always keep one eye on the trees above you!

Jaguars dispatch their prey with a strong bite to the neck that suffocates the animal. Jaguars can also use their strong jaws to crush the skulls of smaller prey animals, killing the prey instantly.

Are Jaguars Endangered?

Jaguars are classed as being 'Near Threatened' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As with many rainforest species, the biggest threat to Jaguars is habitat loss due to deforestation. They are also shot by farmers protecting their livestock, and even today some are shot for their fur.

There are only about 15,000 jaguars living in the wild in their natural habitat.

1. Jaguars are solitary creatures, and adults spend most of their time alone.

2. Unlike most cats, jaguars are excellent swimmers and can swim across rivers.

3. The word 'jaguar' comes from the Native American word 'yajuar', which means 'he who kills with one leap'.

4. Jaguars have the third most powerful bites of all cats.

5. Jaguars can see six times better than humans.

6. The jaguar's scientific name is Panthera onca.

7. Jaguars are masters at ambush hunting and stalking.

8. In the wild, jaguars live for 12-15 years.

9. Jaguars are carnivores, with varied diets that includes fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.

10. Jaguars' rosettes are bigger than thos of leopards, and have a spot in the centre.

Discover More with Active Wild

You can discover more amazing rainforest animals on this page: Rainforest Animals List with Pictures & Facts

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Jaguar Facts For Kids & Adults: Information, Pictures & Video

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This page contains information about jaguars, and includes a list of jaguar facts for kids. This article is part of our Rainforest Animals series. The jaguar's size, strength and expert hunting ability means that it's an apex predator in the rainforests of South and Central America.