Big cat

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Big cats
Images of the members of the genus Panthera, from top to bottom: the tiger, the lion, the jaguar, the leopard, and the snow leopard.
Images of the members of the genus Panthera, from top to bottom: the tiger, the lion, the jaguar, the leopard, and the snow leopard.
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Superfamily:
Feloidea
Family: Felidae
Species

The term "big cat" is typically used to refer to any of the five living members of the genus Panthera, namely the tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard.[1][2]

All cats descend from the Felidae family, sharing similar musculature, cardiovascular systems, skeletal frames, and behaviour. Both the cheetah and cougar differ physically from fellow big cats, and to a greater extent, other small cats. As obligate carnivores, big cats are considered apex predators, topping their food chain without natural predators of their own.[3][4] Native ranges include the Americas, Africa, and Asia; the ranges of the leopard and tiger also extend into Europe, specifically in Russia.[5]

Species

See also: List of felids

Evolution

It is estimated that the ancestors of most big cats split away from the

domestic cats, but also some larger cats such as the cougar and cheetah.[7]

A 2010 study published in

Panthera blytheae, dating to 4.1−5.95 MA, was discovered in southwest Tibet.[10]

3.9 Ma
3.2 Ma
3.6 Ma

Description and abilities

Roaring

The ability to

roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx and hyoid apparatus.[11] The larynx is attached to the hyoid bone that is hanging from a sequence of bones. This sequence of bones the hyoid hangs from are tympanohyal, stylohyal, epihyal, and ceratohyal; these are located in the mandible and skull.[12] In the larynx, there are vocal folds that produce the structure needed to stretch the ligament to a length that creates the roar effect. This tissue is made of thick collagen and elastic fiber that becomes denser as it approaches the epithelial mucosal lining.[13]
When this large pad folds it creates a low natural frequency, causing the cartilage walls of the larynx to vibrate. When it begins to vibrate the sound moves from a high to low air resistance which makes the roaring.

The lion's larynx is the longest, giving it the most robust roar. The roar in good conditions can be heard 8 or even 10 km (5 or 6 mi) away.[14] All five extant members of the genus Panthera contain this elongated hyoid but owing to differences in the larynx the snow leopard cannot roar. Unlike the roaring cats in their family, the snow leopard is distinguished by the lack of a large pad of fibro-elastic tissue that allows for a large vocal fold.

Weight range

The range of weights exhibited by the species is large. At the bottom, adult snow leopards usually weigh 22 to 55 kg (49 to 121 lb), with an exceptional specimen reaching 75 kg (165 lb).[15][16]

Male and female lions typically weigh 150–250 kg (330–550 lb) and 110–182 kg (243–401 lb) respectively,

in captivity.[20][22]

The liger, a hybrid of a lion and tiger, can grow to be much larger than its parent species. In particular, a liger called 'Nook' is reported to have weighed over 550 kg (1,210 lb).[23][24]

Interaction with humans

Conservation

For the population of the big cats, see List of carnivorans by population

An animal sanctuary provides a refuge for animals to live out their natural lives in a protected environment. Usually, these animal sanctuaries are the organizations which provide a home to big cats whose private owners are no longer able or willing to care for their big cats. However, the use of the word sanctuary in an organization's name is by itself no guarantee that it is a true animal sanctuary in the sense of a refuge. To be accepted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as a bona fide animal sanctuary and to be eligible for an exemption from the prohibition of interstate movement of big cats under the Captive Wildlife Safety Act (CWSA), organizations must meet the following criteria:[25]

  • Must be a non-profit entity that is tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Cannot engage in commercial trade in big cat species, including their offspring, parts, and products made from them
  • Cannot breed big cats
  • Cannot allow direct contact between big cats and the public at their facilities
  • Must keep records of transactions involving covered cats
  • Must allow the service to inspect their facilities, records, and animals at reasonable hours

Internationally, a variety of regulations are placed on big cat possession.[26] In Austria, big cats may only be owned in a qualified zoo which is overseen by a zoologist or veterinarian.[27] Requirements must also be met for enclosures, feeding, and training practices. Both Russia and South Africa regulate private ownership of big cats native to each country. Some countries, including Denmark, Thailand and India, prohibit all private ownership of big cats.[26]

Threats

The members of the Panthera genus are classified as some level of threatened by the

Masai Mara, and Tanzania's Serengeti; outside these conservation areas, hunting poses the dominant threat to large carnivores.[34]

In the United States, 19 states have banned ownership of big cats and other dangerous exotic animals as

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have encouraged the U.S. to further strengthen these laws. The WWF is concerned that weaknesses in the existing U.S. regulations could be unintentionally helping to fuel the black market for tiger parts.[38]

See also

References

  1. PMID 20138224
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  2. OCLC 34283113
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  3. ^ Balme, G. (2005). "Counting Cats" (PDF). Africa Geographic (13): 36−43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-13.
  4. ISSN 0006-3207
    .
  5. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T15954A163991139.en
    . Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  6. ^ Joseph Stromberg (2013-11-12). "This Fossil Skull Unearthed in Tibet Is the Oldest Big Cat Ever Found". Smithsonian Institution.
  7. OCLC 62265494
    .
  8. PMID 20138224
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  9. ^ "Tiger's ancient ancestry revealed". BBC News. 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  10. PMID 24225466
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  11. PMID 12363272
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  12. PMID 2606766
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  13. PMID 25511412
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  14. ISBN 978-1-57505-404-9
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  15. ISBN 978-0-226-77999-7
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  16. ISBN 978-0-671-42805-1
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  17. ISBN 978-2-8317-0045-8
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  18. ISBN 978-0-8018-5789-8
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  19. JSTOR 3504004
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  20. ^
    ISBN 978-0-85112-235-9
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  21. ^ "East African Business Digest", University Press of Africa, with contributions from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 1963, retrieved 2018-03-18
  22. ^ "The Nineteenth Century and After". Vol. 130. Leonard Scott Publishing Company. 1941. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  23. ^ "The Liger - Meet the World's Largest Cat". Liger Facts. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  24. ^ "Liger Nook - Liger Profile". Liger World. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  25. ^ "Captive Wildlife Safety Act - What Big Cat Owners Need to Know" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.
  26. ^ a b Zhang, Laney; Palmer (2013). "Regulations Concerning the Private Possession of Big Cats: Comparative Analysis | Law Library of Congress". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Palmer, Edith (2013). "Regulations Concerning the Private Possession of Big Cats: Austria| Law Library of Congress". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  28. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15951A107265605.en
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  29. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T22732A50664030.en
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  30. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T15955A50659951.en
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  31. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T15953A50658693.en
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  32. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T219A50649567.en
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  33. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T18868A50663436.en
    . Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  34. ^ Hunter, Luke (June 2004). "Carnivores in Crisis: The Big Cats" (PDF). Africa Geographic: 28–41. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 15, 2010.
  35. ^ Pacelle, Wayne. "Captive Wildlife Safety Act: A Good Start in Banning Exotics as Pets". The Humane Society of the United States. Archived from the original on 19 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
  36. ^ "Captive Wildlife Safety Act: What Big Cat Owners Need to Know" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2024-04-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  37. ^ "Regulations To Implement the Captive Wildlife Safety Act" (PDF). Federal Register. 72 (158). U.S. Congress. August 16, 2007. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2024.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  38. ^ Braun, David (October 21, 2010). "America's 5,000 Backyard Tigers a Ticking Time Bomb, WWF Says". News Watch. National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2023.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big cats.
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