Difference Between Jaguar and Cheetah

The key difference between jaguar and cheetah is their spots. A jaguar’s spots are mostly rosette-shaped with a spot at the center, while a cheetah’s spots have very solid and evenly distributed. Overall, jaguars are stronger and bigger than cheetahs, whereas cheetahs are faster than jaguars. 

Jaguars and cheetahs are felids, which means they are members of the Felidae or the cat family. They are on top of the food chain, which helps in balancing the animal population. Both are very important and should exist for the ecosystem to function and maintain equilibrium.  But they can’t be kept as pets at home if you are not an expert with wild cats. They can be dangerous when you don’t know enough about them.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. Jaguar  
3. Cheetah
4. Jaguar vs Cheetah in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Jaguar vs Cheetah

Jaguar

A jaguar is a large cat with a distinctive golden-yellow coat that is covered in black spots arranged in a circular pattern. Jaguars are under the panther genus of the cat family. They are known as the 3rd-largest feline behind the tiger and lion. These are the only Panthers that are seen in the Americas. Adult jaguars can weigh up to 158 kg and can reach up to six feet in length. They look closely like leopards but are generally bigger and well-built. Their tail is also relatively short and typically has black rings around it.

Jaguars are known for their agility and strength and are excellent swimmers and climbers. They are mainly opportunistic, solitary, stalk & ambush predators found at the peak of the food chain. They have a very powerful bite that can pierce through armored reptiles.

Cheetah

A cheetah is a large feline with a slender body and long legs. They have a distinctive coat that is typically a yellowish-tan color, covered in black spots. Their underbelly and throat are white, and they have black “tear lines” that run from the corners of their eyes down their cheeks. They have a small head with high-set eyes and long, thin “whiskers” on their muzzle.

Cheetahs live in some parts of the Middle East and Africa. It is the one and only felid that has non-retractable pads and claws, which prevent them from gripping (they cannot climb trees vertically, although they can reach accessible branches with no sweat.) Famous for their speed and being the fastest living specie, cheetahs can cover short bursts up to 500 meters. They have long, narrow tails with black spots, which helps them balance when running at high speeds. Adult cheetahs can weigh between 21 and 72 kg.