Kings of the jungle. Ghosts of the savanna. Rulers of the rain forest. No matter where they’re found, the world’s big cats command titles of respect. A fearsome foursome— lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards—make up the roster of feline heavyweights. These are the only big cats with the ability to roar.
Built to Hunt All big cats are carnivores. T at means they eat meat. But fi rst they have to catch their prey. Big cats have adaptations that make them successful hunters. Long tails create balance while leaping,
climbing, and running. Sheaths at the top of each toe protect claws as sharp as knives. T e claws move back into the sheaths when the cats aren’t using them. Muscular legs power long jumps and big strides while running. A fl exible spine eases twisting and turning during high-speed chases. It also helps cats land on their feet if they tumble from a high perch. More than a 100 million scent-sensing
cells line a big cat’s nose. T at’s 20 times more smelling power than humans have. In addition, big cats see six times better at night than humans do. T at’s thanks to an extra layer of light-absorbing cells in their eyes. Big cats use their whiskers to squeeze in and out of tight spaces and fi nd their way in the dark.
What’s that Sound?
Lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards are all missing a bone in their voiceboxes. In its place is a band of stretchy tissue. The more the band stretches, the lower the sound that is made when air passes across the vocal cords. The result is a roar instead of a purr.
4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER
Hunting Prey T ere’s no fast food where big cats live, but the food does move fast. A big cat has to work hard to catch a meal. It usually stalks its prey by crouching low to the ground. It silently sneaks closer. When the moment is right, it strikes. T e cat leaps on the prey, bites with its sharp fangs and holds on with its claws. Each of these cats has a way of hunting.
Tigers are capable swimmers. T at’s helpful aſt er they’ve killed their prey in the water. T ey can swim across lakes dragging heavy prey in their mouths. Leopards are skilled climbers. T ey can carry prey twice their weight up into a tree. T ey store the prey there to eat later. Jaguars prefer to hunt at night, under the cover of darkness. T eir night vision is excellent. Lions use two main strategies to hunt
prey: “search and stalk” and “sit and wait.” But sometimes they just follow circling vultures to a fresh kill. T en they try to steal a meal from the predator who killed it!
A lionness stalks her prey.
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