Difference Between Tiger and Leopard

Tiger vs Leopard

Tiger and leopard are felines belonging to the same family and genus. Though these two big cats are similar in some characteristics, there is a huge difference between the two.

One of the striking differences between a Tiger and a leopard, one can come across, is in its outer fur. The tigers have dark vertical stripes on a white or orange background. Instead of the vertical stripes, a leopard comes with spots or rosettes in its fur. One can see a large number of small spots on a leopard’s body.

When comparing the size of the two felines, the leopard is smaller to a tiger. When a tiger weighs about 500 pounds, a leopard just weighs 140 pounds. When talking about strength, the tiger has an upper hand over the leopard. The tiger has more powerful legs and shoulders than the leopard.

When a tiger stretches 6 feet in length and has a tail length of three foot, the leopard stretches to about 6.25 feet and has a tail length of about 4.5 feet.

Unlike the tiger, a leopard is known for its climbing ability. Leopards can be often seen resting in treetops. Though these two felines are known as good swimmers, the tiger is a better swimmer when compared to a leopard.

Well, the leopard is highly concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and are also seen in India, china, Indo-china and Malaysia. Tiger population is somewhat concentrated in southern and eastern Asia.

Leopard was earlier believed to be a hybrid of lion and panther. And thus the name leopard is a mix of Greek words leon (lion) and pardos (panther). Tiger is a word that has also been taken from Greek ‘Tigris’, meaning arrow (reference to a tiger’s speed).

Difference Between Lions and Tigers

Lions vs Tigers

Although both lions and tigers are wild animals that belong to the cat family, there are many differences between these two big cats.

Their appearance is the most obvious difference between a lion and a tiger. Tigers have bold, black stripes across their bodies, whereas lions do not have any stripes. Tigers also do not have manes like the male lions. Male lions have a large mane around their faces.

The physical characteristics also differ between lions and tigers. Tigers are longer than lions, more muscular, and generally heavier in weight, although lions are taller than tigers. Tigers have stronger legs, and are much more active and agile when compared to lions. By nature, tigers are considered to be more aggressive than lions. Male lions are even thought to be lazy in a way, and will not do anything unless they really have to. Tigers are the more dominant big cat when lions and tigers are compared. Even in several cases where their genes have been mixed, the genes of the tiger have proven to be more prominent than the lion’s genes.

Lions generally like to live in large groups, and these are known as ‘prides’. In the pride there will be one male lion who is the head of the tribe, along with several other males and females. It is the female lion who hunts for food in the savannah. The females bring their prey back to the pride, and therefore, the male lions rely on the females for their meals.

On the other hand, tigers prefer to live and hunt on their own. Tigers hunt for their own prey in the jungle, and then eat their catch alone. Therefore, one can say that lions are definitely more sociable than tigers.