Are You Observing a Leopard Or a Cheetah?

Although the difference may seem subtle, it is important to know whether you’re observing a leopard or cheetah. The differences between the two species are not only reflected in their distinctive body shapes but also in their hunting strategies and habitat choices.

The most obvious difference is in their coats. A cheetah has spots while a leopard has rosettes, which are unevenly-shaped black markings gathered together to create a symmetrical pattern that mimics the movement of grass and shadows in an attempt to camouflage its prey.

Another key distinction is in the head and face. The cheetah’s face is small and rounded with smaller teeth while the leopard has a larger and more elongated head with stronger jaws. The cheetah also has black “tear marks” lines that run from the inside corner of its eyes down its cheeks, which are thought to help reduce the sun’s glare while it hunts during the day.

Leopards are more flexible hunters that can pursue their prey in both open and covered landscapes. They employ stalking and camouflage techniques to creep up on their prey before pounce. They have the ability to kill larger wildlife and will often carry their prey into trees to avoid scavengers and larger predators.

Leopards live in a wide range of ecosystems including mountain forests, woodlands and savannas. They are found across Africa and other parts of Asia and the Middle East. Sadly, leopards are critically endangered with populations in many countries declining. They are impacted by the wildlife trade (for use as exotic pets, trophy hunting and direct conflict with humans) and habitat destruction and fragmentation.