There are at least 38 species of wild cats. With their agile bodies, super fast reflexes, and camouflaged fur, cats are bom predators. There are seven species of big cats: the tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar, cheetah, snów leopard, and clouded leopard. Only the first four of these can roar.
' WHATS
IN A NAME?
The distinctive spots on a jaguar or leopard’s coat are known as rosettes ■ because they resemble rosę flowers.
Tell me morę: tiger physigue
Camouflaged fur:
Hides the tiger in the dappled forest
Flexible spine:
Allows the cat to twist and tum while chasing prey
Jaw: Delivers
Long taił: Gives extra balance when running and ciimbing
Soft paws: Help the cat to silently staik and sneak
Killer teeth:
Daggerlike canines grip and stab, while scissorlike cheek teeth slice flesh and crush bonę
Broad nb cage: Has
plenty of room for powerful lungs
Retractable claws:
Puli back inside the footpads to stay razor-sharp
04:
01: Large, forward-facing eyes judge distances well. Cats also have excellent night vision.
02: Large, movable ear flaps direct sound into a cat's inner ear.
03: The JacobsorTs organ is a special sensor in the roof of a cat’s mouth that detects smelly messages from other felines.
A cat’s highly sensitive whiskers help it judge gaps and find its way in the dark, just by touching objects or sensing air currents.
Cats right themselves as they fali, always landing on their feet.
The largest big cats, tigers are usually orange and black. Of the five types, the Bengal is most common, and the Siberian is biggest.
The “king of the jungle” actually lives on the grassy plains of Africa. It has the loudest roar and is the only cat to live in groups.
This cat is famous for its spots, but some leopards, known as panthers, have plain black fur. Leopards are smaller than jaguars.
The jaguar lives in the rain forests of Central and South America. It has a squat body and a bite that can crush a turtle’s Shell.
Equipped with long legs, the cheetah is the fastest land animal. It can sprint at morę than 68 mph (110 kph) in short bursts.
Adapted to life in the mountains of Central Asia, this cat has a thick, warm coat, strong lungs, and stocky legs for ciimbing.
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