Big cat Totally Explained

Big cat distinguishes the large wild cats from much smaller species. One definition of big cat includes only the four species of cat in the genus Panthera: the lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar. Members of this genus are the only cats able to roar, and this is sometimes considered a distinguishing characteristic of big cats. A more expansive definition also includes the snow leopard, clouded leopard, and cougar. The roaring cats may also be distinguished from the other big cats by referring to them as "great cats". Another distinction is the offspring of the great cats are called cubs while the offspring of the lesser big cats are referred to as kittens.
Three of the four largest cats are members of the genus Panthera; the cougar is the fourth largest cat, exceeding the leopard in size. Some medium-sized cats like the Eurasian lynx may weigh as much as 25 kg (55 lb), but they're not considered big cats.
Despite enormous differences in size, the various species of cat are amazingly similar in both structure and behavior. All cats are carnivores and efficient predators. Their range includes the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe; Australia and Antarctica have no indigenous species of cats.

Roaring

The ability to roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx and hyoid apparatus.. 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. Though jaguars are considered great cats, they're not often known to roar and have a less developed larynx. The snow leopard is also said to have a larynx nearly adapted for roaring, but it's far less developed than the jaguar. Cats that can't roar have vocal chords more suited for purring, while roaring cats can't purr.

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. Nevertheless, there are still an estimated 15,000 big cats kept captive in America, and only a small percentage of them are in accredited zoos. The remainder are in private homes and nonaccredited roadside zoos.

Species

Family Felidae

Genus Panthera (roaring or great cats)
- Tiger, Panthera tigris (Asia)
- Lion, Panthera leo (Africa, Gir Forest in India; extinct in former range of southeast Europe, Middle East and North America)
- Jaguar, Panthera onca (the Americas; from Mexico to northern Argentina)
- Leopard, Panthera pardus (Asia and Africa)
Genus Acionynx
- Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus (Africa and Iran)
Genus Puma
- Cougar, Puma concolor (North and South America)
Genus Uncia
- Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia (mountains of central and south Asia)
Genus Neofelis
- Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa (southeast and south Asia)
- Bornean Clouded Leopard, Neofelis diardi (Borneo and Sumatra)

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