What are the similarities and differences between Cheetahs and African Leopards?
The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and the African Leopard (Panthera pardus) are both felines – wild cats from Africa.
The Cheetah has a sway-back and the Leopard does not.
Cheetah (left) and Leopard (right)
| CHEETAHS AND AFRICAN LEOPARDS | |
| SIMILAR | DIFFERENT |
| Cheetahs and leopards are mammals. | Cheetahs are between 1-1.4 meters (3-4 feet) long – leopards are 1-2 meters (3-6 feet) long. |
| Cheetahs and leopards are endothermal (they can control their body temperature). | Cheetahs are about 90 centimeters (35 inches) tall – leopards are about 45-80 centimeters (18-31 inches) tall. |
| Cheetahs and leopards have vertebrae (backbones). | Cheetahs weigh between 36-65 kilograms (79-140 pounds) – leopards weigh between 36-90 kilograms (80-200 pounds). |
| Cheetahs and leopards have insulating fur. | Cheetahs can sprint up to 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour) – leopards can sprint up to 58 kilometers per hour (36 miles per hour). |
| Cheetahs and leopards have live young, called cubs. | Cheetahs have round or oval spots – leopards have irregular shaped spots called rosetttes. |
| Cheetahs and leopards have spotted markings. | Cheetahs have a black tear-shaped line on their face – leopards have no black line on their face. |
| Cheetahs and leopards have long tails, about a meter (3 feet) long. | Cheetahs have small teeth and cannot crunch bones – leopards have strong teeth and can crunch bones. |
| Cheetahs have thin, short whiskers – leopards have thick, longer whiskers | |
| Cheetahs have claws that do not retract (they are always visible) – leopards have claws that retract (move in and out). | |
| Cheetahs hunt during the day (they are diurnal) – leopards hunt at night (they are nocturnal). | |
| Cheetahs don’t climb – leopards can climb as high as 15 meters (50 feet). | |
| Cheetahs can’t roar – leopards can roar. | |
| Cheetahs don’t like water – leopards are strong swimmers. | |
| Cheetahs are not in the African Big Five category – Leopards are in the African Big Five category | |
Cheetah (left) and Leopard (right)
Cheetah (left) and Leopard (right)
Cheetah
African Leopard
African Leopard
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMIL AR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM