Cheetahs and leopards are two of the most fascinating animals that you can find in the savanna. Even though the average person isn’t able to tell the difference between the two, there are a few differences pertaining to the spots on each animal. Whether you’re getting ready to dress up for Halloween or if you’re genuinely curious about what makes cheetah and leopard spots unique for each animal, below are some of the key differences to take into consideration.
What Does a Cheetah Look Like?
Much like a leopard if you were in the middle of the savanna all you would recognize are the terrifying eyes and brilliant teeth amongst the dry grass. When you have a chance to look at both of the animals up close, you’ll notice that cheetahs have solid black oval spots all over their body. They are also known to have “tear lines” that are black in color and run from their eyes to their nose to their mouth. These are specifically designed to help prevent the sun from influencing their sight while they’re hunting.
When compared to other cats in the savanna, cheetahs are seen to be the “lankier” ones as they have much smaller jaws and longer tails than what you would see on a lion, for instance. With bursts of speed reaching up to 75 mph over a short distance, they rely on this speed for catching a variety of different types of prey during the day.
Their walk is one of the most iconic features about the animal as they move their two left legs and then two right legs, essentially creating a pace. You’ll never hear a cheetah roar, unlike its cat species counterparts. They have the tendency to purr when they are breathing in and out through their noses.
What Does a Leopard Look Like?
One of the most noticeable features about leopards is that they have a more complex pattern of spots. Instead of being entirely black, you might notice that they have brown and black coloring all over their bodies. The most defining characteristic that makes their spots different from the spots you would see on a cheetah is the fact that they are rosettes, or shaped like roses.
The main purpose of the rosette spots on a leopard is to help them camouflage while they are out hunting for prey. Their design assists the animal with blending into plants and shadows, especially if they’re dwelling within the underbrush and tall grass. Depending on where the leopards are located, their rosettes may differ. For example, eastern African leopards have circular rosettes, whereas southern African leopards have square rosettes.
When you take a look at their body, they are far more muscular than what you would expect from a cheetah. This means that they aren’t built as aerodynamic as cheetahs and wouldn’t be able to match their speeds in a race. Instead, leopards are built to surprise their enemies and to overpower them with an immense amount of strength. Their bodies are useful for dragging prey up into trees where they can hide the carcasses and feed off of them at their leisure.
When walking, leopards have the tendency to use their left front and right back leg then right front and left back leg, instead of the pacing motion like cheetahs. Another distinguishable difference between the two is the fact that a leopard is able to roar like other cats within their species, but won’t be able to purr until they exhale.
The Danger of Cheetahs and Leopards
It is important to remember that although cheetahs might look interesting with their tan and black spots, they aren’t necessarily the first animal that you would want to be faced with in the wild. There have been numerous studies conducted that explain how cheetahs aren’t the most dangerous animals in sub-Saharan Africa, as they aren’t known to regularly eat men. In fact, there have been many individuals throughout history that have owned cheetahs as pets, such as Genghis Khan and the Ancient Egyptians. One of the main reasons as to why they are depleting in population is because many farmers suggest that they are eating their livestock, when in reality it’s not the idea of a great meal for a cheetah.
Leopards have slightly the same temperament, though if they are provoked, ill, or threatened they will attack humans. In the wild, they prefer to stick to the shadows and opt for wild prey. There have been stories of leopards throughout history that have preyed on men as a result of an injury preventing it from attacking its regular prey. As an example, Panar Leopard had killed over 400 people because a poacher left it injured and unable to hunt its desired prey. Most yellow fur and black rosette leopards will ignore humans when they’re left alone.
