Big cat
{{otheruses4|large cat species|the record label|Big Cat Records|people nicknamed "The Big Cat"|The Big Cat}}
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A tiger, the largest and the most powerful of all the cats
Big cat distinguishes large
cat species from smaller ones. One definition of
big cat includes only the four species of cat in the
genus Panthera: the
tiger,
lion,
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
cheetah,
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".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 30 kg (66 lb), but they are 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.
(1) 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 are 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 is far less developed than that of the jaguar.
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
(2). Nevertheless, there are still an estimated 15,000 big cats kept captive in the United States, and only a small percentage of them are in accredited zoos.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} The remainder are in private homes and nonaccredited roadside zoos.
Species
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The lion, a species in the genus Panthera
Family
Felidae
References
-
[WEB, Weissengruber, GE, G Forstenpointner, G Peters, A Kübber-Heiss, and WT Fitch, Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (Panthera onca), tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and domestic cat (Felis silvestris f. catus), Journal of Anatomy, Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 195–209, 201, 201, 2002, September,weblink 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00088.x, 2007-05-20, ]
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[WEB, Pacelle, Wayne, Captive Wildlife Safety Act: A Good Start in Banning Exotics as Pets, The Human Society of the United States,weblink 2007-04-01, ]
External links
GroßkatzenFauveחתולים גדוליםMaungBüyük kediler
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