Comparisons

Physical Appearance

Cheetah

Leopard

Jaguar

The cheetah is smaller than both the leopard and the jaguar because it's built for speed. It has long, slim, muscular legs, a small, rounded head set on a long neck, a deep chest, and a long tail for balance.

As the largest of the American cats, the jaguar's big bones, heavy chest, and muscular legs make it heavier and more powerful than the leopard.

The leopard is a slender cat with an smaller head, sturdy legs, and a long tail.

The cheetah doesn't have rosettes, just spots. Its tail has rings, like the jaguar. It also has "tear lines" running from the inner corners of its eyes to its mouth.

The jaguar's rosettes have one or more spots in them, and the tail has rings.

The leopard's rosettes don't have spots inside them. The tail is covered with spots.

Hunting

Leopard

Cheetah

Jaguar

The leopard drops down from trees onto its prey.

The jaguar sneaks up on its prey and by surprising it, it catches it.

The cheetah stalks its prey, then runs it down in a sprint that can be up to 60 or 70 mph.

It suffocates its prey by biting its throat, like the cheetah, or paralyzes it by biting the back of its neck.

The jaguar uses its strong jaws to crack the scull of its prey.

Once the cheetah closes in, it knocks the prey down with its paw and suffocates the animal with a bite to the neck.

Social Order

Cheetah

Leopard

Jaguar

Male cheetahs don't even have territories, but females definitely do. They will guard their territory fiercely, but won't escort trespassers out.

Jaguars have been seen escorting intruders out. Without attacking, some follow trespassers from a safe distance out of their territory.

Leopards are not known to escort intruders out.

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