Big cat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term big cat - which is not a biological classification - is used informally to distinguish the larger cat species from smaller ones. One definition of "big cat" includes the four members of the genus Panthera: the tiger, lion, leopard, and jaguar. Members of this genus are the only cats able to roar. (The leopard, while a "big cat" in this context, is actually smaller than some cats outside of the Panthera genus.) A more expansive definition of "big cat" also includes the cheetah, snow leopard, and cougar. These "roaring cats" are also sometimes distinguished from the other big cats by the term great cats.
Despite enormous differences in size, the various species of cat are quite similar in both structure and behavior, with the exception of the cheetah, which is significantly different from any of the big or small cats. All cats are carnivores and efficient predators. Their range includes the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
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[edit] Roaring
The ability to roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx and hyoid apparatus.[1] (However, the snow leopard cannot roar, despite having hyoid morphology similar to roaring cats.) When air passes through the larynx on the way to the lungs, the cartilage walls of the larynx vibrate, producing sound. The lion's larynx is longest, giving it the most robust roar.
[edit] Threats
The principal threats to big cats are habitat destruction and poaching. In the United States, 19 states have banned ownership of big cats and other dangerous exotic animals as pets, and the Captive Wildlife Safety Act bans the interstate sale and transportation of these animals[2]. Nevertheless, there are still an estimated 15,000 big cats kept captive in the United States, and only a small percentage of them are in accredited zoos.[citation needed] The remainder are in private homes and nonaccredited roadside zoos. Poachers are also a threat.
[edit] Species
Family Felidae
- Genus Panthera (roaring or great cats)
- Leopard, Panthera pardus (Asia and Africa)
- Lion, Panthera leo (Africa, Gir Forest in India; extinct in former range of southeast Europe, Middle East, much of Asia, and North America)
- Jaguar, Panthera onca (the Americas; from the Southern United States and Mexico to northern Argentina)
- Tiger, Panthera tigris (Asia)
- Genus Acinonyx
- Genus Puma
- Genus Uncia
- Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia (mountains of central and south Asia)
- Genus Neofelis
- Bornean Clouded Leopard, Neofelis diardi (Borneo and Sumatra)
- Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa (southeast and south Asia)
[edit] References
- ^ Weissengruber, GE; G Forstenpointner, G Peters, A Kübber-Heiss, and WT Fitch (September 2002). "Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (Panthera onca), tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and domestic cat (Felis silvestris f. catus)". Journal of Anatomy. Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 195–209. doi:. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1570911. Retrieved on 2009-01-16.
- ^ Pacelle, Wayne. "Captive Wildlife Safety Act: A Good Start in Banning Exotics as Pets". The Humane Society of the United States. http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/wayne_pacelle_the_animal_advocate/captive_wildlife_safety_act_a_good_start_in_banning_exotics_as_pets.html. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
[edit] External links
- NatureFootage Big Cat pictures and video clips
- How big are the Big Cats - an article at Big Cats Online which includes a chart comparing the body lengths of several cat species.
- ARKive - images and movies of endangered big cats
- Humane Society of the United States -- article on big cats as pets
- Big Cat Rescue -- Tampa, Florida sanctuary dedicated to care and conservation of big cats
- In-Sync Exotics -- Wylie, Texas rescue sanctuary
- FCF Big Cat Policy -- recommendations against casual private ownership
- WHF -- Wildlife Heritage Foundation (European Endangered Species Breeding Programmes (EEP))
- WHF Photos -- Wildlife Heritage Foundation photos
- [1] -- Exotic Cat Conservation
