Leopard vs Jaguar – what is the difference?

difference between a leopard and a jaguar leopard cub in tree
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Leopard walking towards camera
Leopard (Panthera pardus)
jaguar front view
Jaguar (Panthera onca)

These two beautiful big cats are often mistaken for one another in pictures. In fact, you sometimes see them incorrectly captioned in images online!

So what is the difference between a leopard and a jaguar?

At first glance they certainly look similar and they do share certain attributes however, there are several important aspects that differentiate these spotted predators.

Geographical differences between the Leopard and the Jaguar

difference between leopards and jaguars geographical location
difference between leopard and jaguar geographical location

LEOPARD

  • Asia
  • India
  • China
  • Middle East
  • East Africa
  • Southern Africa

JAGUAR

  • Central America
  • South America
    • Amazon Rain Forest

Physical differences between the Leopard and the Jaguar

difference between leopard and a jaguar physical appearance
difference between leopard and jaguar physical appearance

LEOPARD

  • 80 kg
  • 0.8 m height at the shoulder
  • 1.5 m length head and body
  • Head is small and defined
  • Slender build
  • Small rosette markings with no inner spots, close together.

JAGUAR

  • 110 kg
  • 0.8 m height at the shoulder
  • 1.8 m length head and body
  • Head is large and round
  • Thickset build
  • Large rosette markings with inner spots, widely spaced.

Behavioural differences between the Leopard and the Jaguar

difference between leopard and jaguar behavioural differences
Leopard with Tsessebe, Botswana
difference between a leopard and a jaguar behavioural differences
Jaguar with Cayman, Brasil

LEOPARD

  • Agile climbers
  • Stalker/ambush hunter
  • Secretive/elusive
  • Kills via suffocation
  • Natural enemies – lions and hyenas
  • Preys on mammals and birds
    • warthogs
    • antelope e.g impala
    • guinea fowl

JAGUAR

  • Excellent swimmers
  • Stalker hunter
  • Bold/apex predator
  • Kills by crushing and ripping with canine teeth
  • Natural enemies – none
  • Preys on reptiles and fish
    • caiman
    • turtles
    • large fish
difference between leopard and jaguar behavioural differences
Leopards are excellent climbers
difference betwenn leopard and jaguar behavioural differences
Jaguars are excellent swimmers
difference between a jaguar and a leopard

Recommended Reading

IMAGE CREDITS

Crocodile Images Andrew Chislett Photography

Jaguar Images Shutterstock

difference between a leopard and a jaguar leopard sleeping in a tree
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