The first cats emerged twenty-five million years ago, with the appearance of the saber-toothed tiger. Big Cat pertains to any of the five members of the Panthera species including jaguars, lions, tigers, snow leopards, and leopards, species that have the ability to roar. However, cheetahs, cougars, and clouded leopards do not roar are accepted into the Panthera list of species.
Despite the massive differences in size, many big cat species are similar in structure and behavior aspects. All cats are predators and meat eaters and known to scavenge when food is in short supply. Their territories include the Africa, Americas, and Asia.
Male lions weigh between 350 and 550 pounds, females 250 to 400. Male tigers weigh between 230 to 650 pounds and females 160 to 375 pounds. Some of the biggest male lions and tigers can be as much as 20% larger. Full grown snow leopards weigh from 50 to 120 pounds however, some can grow as large as a 175 pounds. Cheetahs weigh from 50 to 165 pounds.
It is estimated that the ancestors of most big cats split away from the Felidae about six million years ago. The Felinae, on the other hand, comprises mostly small to medium-sized cats, including the domestic cats, but also some larger cats such as the cougar and cheetah.
It is estimated that the ancestors of most big cats split away from the Felidae about six million years ago. The Felinae, on the other hand, comprises mostly small to medium-sized cats, including the domestic cats, but also some larger cats such as the cougar and cheetah.
The snow leopard and the tiger are sister species, and the jaguar, lion, and leopard are more closely related to each other. The tiger and snow leopard diverged from the family of big cats. Tigers evolved into single species. Ancestors of the lion, leopard, and jaguar split from other big cats. Jaguars diverged from the antecedent of lions and leopards. Lions and leopards split from one another.
In Africa habitat encroaching and poaching are the chief threats of extinction for big cats. Certain protected areas exist that shelter large and exceptionally visible populations of African leopards, lions and cheetahs, including Kenya’s Masai Mara, and Tanzania’s Serengeti. It is outside these conservation areas where hunting poses the biggest threat to large big cat population.
Big Cat ownership as pets was banned in 19 U.S. States and in 2018 Russia banned the private possession of wild animals as pets or otherwise, contact with wild animals and prohibits killing wild animals for any reason.