Leopard
Stocky, powerful build
Large head and skull, strong neck and body
Powerful attacker – master of camouflage for stalking
Prey can be hoisted up trees to evade other predators or scavengers
Feeding commences immediately
Rosettes
No tear-marks
Very adaptable to many habitats and whatever is most common to eat even formidable prey
Solitary males
Scavenge readily
Retractable claws
Cheetah
Slender, slight build
Small head, long tail, slender waist and long legs
Sprinter lacking strength - catches prey by oxygen starvation through a fast chase and subsequent suffocation
Always feeds on ground usually where the prey falls or in nearby shade, often looses kills to other predators or scavengers
Needs to catch a breath before feeding
Black Spots
Tear-marks down the sides of the nose
Requires open plains for hunting where there are low lion densities. Takes small to medium-sized antelope, never big or dangerous species
Coalitions of males
Fussy eaters, prefer fresh meat
Only semi-retractable claws
By Megan Emmett