What’s the Difference Between a Cheetah and a Leopard?
Cheetahs and leopards are both large cats with dark spots and yellowish coats, but they have distinctly different body shapes and hunting techniques. Cheetahs are built for speed, with long legs and slender frames, and they weigh between 34 and 54 kg (75 and 119 pounds). They have unique black “tear marks” that run from the inner corners of their eyes down to the sides of their mouths, and their spots are solid. Leopards, on the other hand, are much more robust and muscular, weighing between 50 and 90 kg (110 and 200 pounds). They have a more varied coat pattern with rosettes, which are circular markings without a central spot.
When it comes to hunting, cheetahs and leopards have different strategies. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds up to 114 km (71 miles) per hour, but they can only maintain these speeds for short distances. They rely on bursts of speed to chase down prey in open areas. By contrast, leopards are stealthy hunters that ambush prey and overpower them with their strength. They are agile climbers and often drag their kills into trees to keep them away from scavengers.
The name leopard was originally given to the cat now called cheetah—the so-called hunting leopard—which was once thought to be a cross between the lion and the pard. The term pard was eventually replaced by the name leopard.
Cheetahs and leopards also differ in their habitats and social behavior. Cheetahs prefer open savannas and grasslands where they can use their speed to hunt, although they are also found in areas of denser vegetation and rocky upland terrain. They are mostly diurnal, meaning they are usually active during the day. Male cheetahs often live in groups of two to three other males, and adult males and females rarely meet except to mate. Leopards are more adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, mountains, and grasslands. They are primarily nocturnal and solitary, except during mating or when a mother is raising her cubs.
In the 21st century, cheetahs are almost exclusively found in Africa; a tiny population exists in Iran. Leopards live throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Iran, and the Himalayas, with smaller pockets scattered throughout Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, eastern China and Manchuria, and the Korean peninsula. In addition, one small population of leopards persists in the Atlas Mountains.
