Each of these cats seeks out diff erent prey. Tigers favor deer and water buff alo. Leopards hunt a type of deer called an impala, monkeys, and even porcupines. Jaguars eat fi sh, small crocodiles, and pig-like animals called
peccaries. Lions stalk zebras, wildebeests, and cape buff aloes.
With powerful bodies built for hunting,
these big cats sit at the top of their ecosystems’ food chains. T ey are all apex predators. Apex predators are needed in an ecosystem
and make their habitat healthier. Big cats keep the number of plant-eating animals in check, so plants have a chance to grow and thrive. T ey also keep grazing herds healthier by picking off sick and wounded members. Without big cats, this delicate system would be out of balance.
Who’s Who Among Big Cats
How to tell these big cats apart? Look at their fur:
Leopards have yellow coats with dark spots called rosettes. The edges of each rosette are smooth and circular.
Jaguars have rosettes, too, but they have irregularly shaped borders and a black dot in the center.
A leopard scales a tree.
Tigers are the only big cats with stripes. Their fur is mostly orange with vertical, black stripes.
Lions have light-brown or tawny fur. Their tails are tipped with a tuft of black hair at the end. Males have long, shaggy manes.
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