big cat

{{see also|List of felids}}

• Family Felidae
• Subfamily Pantherinae
• Genus Panthera
• Tiger (Panthera tigris)
• Lion (Panthera leo)
• Jaguar (Panthera onca)
• Leopard (Panthera pardus)
• Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
• Subfamily Felinae
• Genus Acinonyx
• Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
• Genus Puma
• Cougar (Puma concolor)

It is estimated that the ancestors of most big cats split away from the Felinae about 6.37 million years ago.{{Cite web |last=Joseph Stromberg |date=2013-11-12 |title=This Fossil Skull Unearthed in Tibet Is the Oldest Big Cat Ever Found |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-fossil-skull-unearthed-in-tibet-is-the-oldest-big-cat-ever-found-180947677/ |website=Smithsonian Institution}} The Felinae, on the other hand, comprises mostly small to medium-sized cats, including domestic cats, but also some larger cats such as the cougar and cheetah.{{MSW3 Wozencraft|pages = 532–545|id=14000004}}

A 2010 study published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution has given insight into the exact evolutionary relationships of the big cats.{{Cite journal |last1=Davis |first1=Brian W. |last2=Li |first2=Gang |last3=Murphy |first3=William J. |name-list-style=amp |year=2010 |title=Supermatrix and species tree methods resolve phylogenetic relationships within the big cats, Panthera (Carnivora: Felidae) |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=56 |issue=1 |pages=64–76 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.036 |pmid=20138224|bibcode=2010MolPE..56...64D }} The study reveals that the snow leopard and the tiger are sister species, while the lion, leopard, and jaguar are more closely related to each other. The tiger and snow leopard diverged from the ancestral big cats approximately 3.9 Ma. The tiger then evolved into a unique species towards the end of the Pliocene epoch, approximately 3.2 Ma. The ancestor of the lion, leopard, and jaguar split from other big cats from 4.3–3.8 Ma. Between 3.6 and 2.5 Ma, the jaguar diverged from the ancestor of lions and leopards. Lions and leopards split from one another approximately 2 Ma.{{Cite news |date=2010-02-12 |title=Tiger's ancient ancestry revealed |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8512000/8512455.stm |access-date=2010-04-26 |work=BBC News}} The earliest big cat fossil, Panthera blytheae, dating to 4.1−5.95 MA, was discovered in southwest Tibet.{{Cite journal |last1=Z. Jack Tseng |last2=Xiaoming Wang |last3=Graham J. Slater |last4=Gary T. Takeuchi |last5=Qiang Li |last6=Juan Liu |last7=Guangpu Xie |date=7 January 2014 |title=Himalayan fossils of the oldest known pantherine establish ancient origin of big cats |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B |volume=281 |page=20132686 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2013.2686 |pmc=3843846 |pmid=24225466 |number=177 4}}

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The ability to roar comes from an elongated and specially adapted larynx and hyoid apparatus.{{Cite journal |last1=Weissengruber |first1=GE |last2=G Forstenpointner |last3=G Peters |last4=A Kübber-Heiss |last5=WT Fitch |date=September 2002 |title=Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (Panthera onca), tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), liger (Panthera leo × Panthera tigris), Tigon (Panthera tigris x Panthera leo) and the domestic cat. (Felis silvestris f. catus) |journal=Journal of Anatomy |volume=201 |issue=3 |pages=195–209 |doi=10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00088.x |pmc=1570911 |pmid=12363272}} The larynx is attached to the hyoid bone that is hanging from a sequence of bones. This sequence of bones the hyoid hangs from are tympanohyal, stylohyal, epihyal, and ceratohyal; these are located in the mandible and skull.{{Cite journal |last=Hast |first=M H |date=April 1989 |title=The larynx of roaring and non-roaring cats. |journal=Journal of Anatomy |volume=163 |pages=117–121 |issn=0021-8782 |pmc=1256521 |pmid=2606766}} In the larynx, there are vocal folds that produce the structure needed to stretch the ligament to a length that creates the roar effect. This tissue is made of thick collagen and elastic fiber that becomes denser as it approaches the epithelial mucosal lining.{{Cite journal |last1=Erickson-DiRenzo |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Sivasankar |first2=M. Preeti |last3=Thibeault |first3=Susan L. |date=2014-12-15 |title=Utility of cell viability assays for use with ex vivo vocal fold epithelial tissue |journal=The Laryngoscope |volume=125 |issue=5 |pages=E180–E185 |doi=10.1002/lary.25100 |issn=0023-852X |pmc=4414688 |pmid=25511412}} When this large pad folds it creates a low natural frequency, causing the cartilage walls of the larynx to vibrate. When it begins to vibrate the sound moves from a high to low air resistance which makes the roaring.

The lion's larynx is the longest, giving it the most robust roar. The roar in good conditions can be heard 8 or even 10 km ({{convert|8|or|10|km|0|disp=out}}) away.{{Cite book |last=Kathy Darling |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qaoK0ykgmwQC |title=Lions |date=1 January 2000 |publisher=Lerner Publications |isbn=978-1-57505-404-9}} All five extant members of the genus Panthera contain this elongated hyoid but owing to differences in the larynx the snow leopard cannot roar. Unlike the roaring cats in their family, the snow leopard is distinguished by the lack of a large pad of fibro-elastic tissue that allows for a large vocal fold.

The range of weights exhibited by the species is large. At the bottom, adult snow leopards usually weigh {{cvt|22|to|55|kg}}, with an exceptional specimen reaching {{cvt|75|kg}}.{{Cite book |last1=Sunquist, M. |url=https://archive.org/details/wildcatsofworld00sunq/page/377 |title=Wild Cats of the World |last2=Sunquist, F. |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-226-77999-7 |location=Chicago |pages=[https://archive.org/details/wildcatsofworld00sunq/page/377 377–394] |chapter=Snow leopard |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IF8nDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA378}}{{Cite book |last=Boitani, L. |url=https://archive.org/details/simonschustersgu00boit |title=Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals |publisher=Simon & Schuster, Touchstone Books |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-671-42805-1}}

Male and female lions typically weigh {{cvt|150|-|250|kg}} and {{cvt|110|-|182|kg}} respectively,{{Cite book |last1=Nowell, Kristin |url=http://carnivoractionplans1.free.fr/wildcats.pdf |title=Wild Cats: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan |last2=Jackson, Peter |publisher=IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group |year=1996 |isbn=978-2-8317-0045-8 |location=Gland, Switzerland |pages=1–334}}{{Cite book |last=Nowak |first=Ronald M. |title=Walker's Mammals of the World |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-8018-5789-8 |location=Baltimore}} and male and female tigers {{cvt|100|-|306|kg}} and {{convert|75|-|167|kg|lb|abbr=on}} respectively.{{Cite journal |last=Mazák, V. |year=1981 |title=Panthera tigris |journal=Mammalian Species |issue=152 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.2307/3504004 |jstor=3504004 |doi-access=free |df=dmy-all}} Exceptionally heavy male lions and tigers have been recorded to exceed {{cvt|306|kg}} in the wilderness,{{Cite book |last=Wood |first=G. L. |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessbookofan00wood |title=The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats |publisher=Sterling Publishing |year=1983 |isbn=978-0-85112-235-9}}{{Citation |title=East African Business Digest |work=University Press of Africa, with contributions from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry |year=1963 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i_JPAQAAIAAJ&q=TWO+mamuding+lions+which,+since+January+this+year,+killed+244+cattle+and+three+donkeys,+were+shot+at+lssuna+village+in+Tanganyika.+The+lions+were+found+to+weigh+700+and+800+lb. |access-date=2018-03-18}} and weigh around {{cvt|450|kg}} in captivity.{{Cite news |year=1941 |title=The Nineteenth Century and After |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ylEQAAAAIAAJ&q=Samson,+1,000-pound+African |access-date=2018-03-17 |publisher=Leonard Scott Publishing Company |volume=130}}

The liger, a hybrid of a lion and tiger, can grow to be much larger than its parent species. In particular, a liger called 'Nook' is reported to have weighed over {{cvt|550|kg}}.{{Cite web |title=The Liger - Meet the World's Largest Cat |url=http://ligerfacts.org/ |access-date=2016-07-17 |website=Liger Facts}}{{Cite web |title=Liger Nook - Liger Profile |url=http://www.ligerworld.com/nook-the-liger.html |access-date=2018-04-23 |website=Liger World}}

{{Hatnote|For the population of the big cats, see List of carnivorans by population}}

An animal sanctuary provides a refuge for animals to live out their natural lives in a protected environment. Usually, these animal sanctuaries are the organizations which provide a home to big cats whose private owners are no longer able or willing to care for their big cats. However, the use of the word sanctuary in an organization's name is by itself no guarantee that it is a true animal sanctuary in the sense of a refuge. To be accepted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as a bona fide animal sanctuary and to be eligible for an exemption from the prohibition of interstate movement of big cats under the Captive Wildlife Safety Act (CWSA), organizations must meet the following criteria:{{Cite web |title=Captive Wildlife Safety Act - What Big Cat Owners Need to Know |url=http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/CaptiveWildlifeSafetyActFactsheet.pdf |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement}}

• Must be a non-profit entity that is tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Cannot engage in commercial trade in big cat species, including their offspring, parts, and products made from them
• Cannot breed big cats
• Cannot allow direct contact between big cats and the public at their facilities
• Must keep records of transactions involving covered cats
• Must allow the service to inspect their facilities, records, and animals at reasonable hours

Internationally, a variety of regulations are placed on big cat possession.{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Laney; Palmer |date=2013 |title=Regulations Concerning the Private Possession of Big Cats: Comparative Analysis {{!}} Law Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/bigcats/comparative.php |access-date=2021-04-20 |website=www.loc.gov}} In Austria, big cats may only be owned in a qualified zoo which is overseen by a zoologist or veterinarian.{{Cite web |last=Palmer |first=Edith |date=2013 |title=Regulations Concerning the Private Possession of Big Cats: Austria{{!}} Law Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/bigcats/austria.php |access-date=2021-04-20 |website=www.loc.gov}} Requirements must also be met for enclosures, feeding, and training practices. Both Russia and South Africa regulate private ownership of big cats native to each country. Some countries, including Denmark, Thailand and India, prohibit all private ownership of big cats.

The members of the Panthera genus are classified as some level of threatened by the IUCN Red List: the lion,{{cite iucn |author=Bauer, H. |author2=Packer, C. |author3=Funston, P.F. |author4=Henschel, P. |author5=Nowell, K. |year=2016 |errata=2017 |title=Panthera leo |page=e.T15951A115130419 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15951A107265605.en}} leopard{{cite iucn |author=Stein, A.B. |author2=Athreya, V. |author3=Gerngross, P. |author4=Balme, G. |author5=Henschel, P. |author6=Karanth, U. |author7=Miquelle, D. |author8=Rostro-Garcia, S. |author9=Kamler, J.F. |author10=Laguardia, A. |author11=Khorozyan, I. |author12=Ghoddousi, A. |year=2020 |amends=2019 |title=Panthera pardus |volume=2020 |page=e.T15954A163991139 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T15954A163991139.en |access-date=20 April 2021}} and snow leopard{{cite iucn |author=McCarthy, T. |author2=Mallon, D. |author3=Jackson, R. |author4=Zahler, P. |author5=McCarthy, K. |date=2017 |title=Panthera uncia |page=e.T22732A50664030 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T22732A50664030.en }} are categorized as Vulnerable; the tiger is listed as Endangered;{{cite iucn |author=Goodrich, J. |author2=Lynam, A. |author3=Miquelle, D. |author4=Wibisono, H. |author5=Kawanishi, K. |author6=Pattanavibool, A. |author7=Htun, S. |author8=Tempa, T. |author9=Karki, J. |author10=Jhala, Y. |author11=Karanth, U. |date=2015 |title=Panthera tigris |page=e.T15955A50659951 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T15955A50659951.en}} and the jaguar is listed as Near Threatened.{{cite iucn |author=Quigley, H. |author2=Foster, R. |author3=Petracca, L. |author4=Payan, E. |author5=Salom, R. |author6=Harmsen, B. |year=2017 |errata=2018 |title=Panthera onca |page=e.T15953A123791436 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T15953A50658693.en}} Cheetahs are also classified as Vulnerable,{{cite iucn |author=Durant, S. |author2=Mitchell, N. |author3=Ipavec, A. |author4=Groom, R. |date=2015 |title=Acinonyx jubatus |page=e.T219A50649567 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T219A50649567.en}} and the cougar is of Least Concern.{{cite iucn |author=Nielsen, C. |author2=Thompson, D. |author3=Kelly, M. |author4=Lopez-Gonzalez, C.A. |year=2015 |errata=2016 |title=Puma concolor |volume=2015 |page=e.T18868A97216466 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T18868A50663436.en |access-date=20 April 2021}} All species currently have populations that are decreasing. The principal threats to big cats vary by geographic location but primarily consist of habitat destruction and poaching. In Africa, many big cats are hunted by pastoralists or government "problem animal control" officers. Certain protected areas exist that shelter large and exceptionally visible populations of African leopards, lions and cheetahs, such as Botswana's Chobe, Kenya's Masai Mara, and Tanzania's Serengeti; outside these conservation areas, hunting poses the dominant threat to large carnivores.{{Cite journal |last=Hunter |first=Luke |date=June 2004 |title=Carnivores in Crisis: The Big Cats |url=http://www.panthera.org/documents/HunterAfGeo2004CarnivoresInCrisisPart1.pdf |journal=Africa Geographic |pages=28–41 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415100850/http://www.panthera.org/documents/HunterAfGeo2004CarnivoresInCrisisPart1.pdf |archive-date=April 15, 2010}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Pacelle |first=Wayne |title=Captive Wildlife Safety Act: A Good Start in Banning Exotics as Pets |url=http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/wayne_pacelle_the_animal_advocate/captive_wildlife_safety_act_a_good_start_in_banning_exotics_as_pets.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419002256/http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/wayne_pacelle_the_animal_advocate/captive_wildlife_safety_act_a_good_start_in_banning_exotics_as_pets.html |archive-date=19 April 2007 |access-date=2007-04-01 |publisher=The Humane Society of the United States}} The initial Captive Wildlife Safety Act (CWSA) was signed into law on December 19, 2003.{{Cite web |title=Captive Wildlife Safety Act: What Big Cat Owners Need to Know |url=https://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/CWSA_Factsheet.pdf |website=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |access-date=2024-04-17 |archive-date=2008-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922155620/https://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/CWSA_Factsheet.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }} To address problems associated with the increasing trade in certain big cat species, the CWSA regulations were strengthened by a law passed on September 17, 2007.{{Cite journal |date=August 16, 2007 |title=Regulations To Implement the Captive Wildlife Safety Act |url=https://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/CWSA_Final_Rule.pdf |journal=Federal Register |publisher=U.S. Congress |volume=72 |issue=158 |access-date=April 17, 2024 |archive-date=September 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922155238/https://www.fws.gov/le/pdffiles/CWSA_Final_Rule.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }} The big cat species addressed in these regulations are the lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, jaguar, cougar, and any hybrid of these species (liger, tigon, etc.). Private ownership is not prohibited, but the law makes it illegal to transport, sell, or purchase such animals in interstate or foreign commerce. Although these regulations seem to provide a strong legal framework for controlling the commerce involving big cats, international organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have encouraged the U.S. to further strengthen these laws. The WWF is concerned that weaknesses in the existing U.S. regulations could be unintentionally helping to fuel the black market for tiger parts.{{Cite magazine |last=Braun |first=David |date=October 21, 2010 |title=America's 5,000 Backyard Tigers a Ticking Time Bomb, WWF Says |url=http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2010/10/21/americas_5000_backyard_tigers/ |department=News Watch |magazine=National Geographic |access-date=November 20, 2023 |archive-date=May 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515004759/http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2010/10/21/americas_5000_backyard_tigers/ |url-status=dead }}

• Megafauna
• List of largest cats
• Apex predator
• Panthera hybrid
• International Big Cat Alliance

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Turner, A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=66mRJSxIAfoC |title=The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives: An Illustrated Guide to Their Evolution and Natural History |last2=Antón, M. |date=1997 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-10228-5 |language=en | author2-link=Mauricio Antón }}

{{Commons category|Big cats}}{{Wikijunior|Big Cats}}

• [https://www.peoplenotpoaching.org/ People Not Poaching: The Communities and IWT Learning Platform]

Category:Felids