What cat is that?

Flipping through a magazine, you see a picture of a big, powerful-looking cat with rosettes on its golden fur on one of the pages. Is that a cheetah? A leopard? Or a jaguar? Let's find out!

Characteristics of a cheetah

• Golden-furred with spots

• Long, muscular tail for balance

• Black tear marks under its eyes to absorb the sun's glare and enhance the cheetah's vision

• Long legs

• Slender body

• Unable to retract claws (The claws act like the cleats on a sprinter's shoes to provide traction during high-speed chases)

• Unable to roar

• Can hiss

  

Characteristics of a leopard

• Golden-furred with rosettes

• Long tail for balance when climbing and jumping

• Short, powerful limbs

• Long, sleek body

• Sharp, retractable claws for gripping branches when climbing

• Strong jaws

• Can swim and climb

  

Characteristics of a jaguar

• Golden-furred with rosettes and a spot in the middle of each

• Short tail

• Short legs

• Stocky, muscular body

• Powerful jaws and cheeks

• Excellent swimmers and climbers

  

Now that you know the characteristics of these cats, can you identify the cat in the picture? Do you think it is a cheetah, leopard, or jaguar?