Are there leopards in mexico

Jaguars and leopards are actually different species with leopards being smaller, slighter built, more agile and graceful. The stockier, larger Jaguar can be twice the size of a leopard and grow to as much as three hundred pounds in some areas of the world. Both big cats have spots, also called rosettes, dispersed throughout their coloration, but the shape, size and outline of these spots will differ somewhat between the two species. The Jaguar usually has a dot in the middle of his rosettes whereas the Leopard does not.

Jaguars and Leopards can be yellow with black outlined spots and markings or they can appear mostly black in color. The leopard like spot patterns of a black panther can be so close in color to black themselves that they are not always easily distinguishable, making them sometimes appear solid black in color, particularly from a distance. The body length of a Black Jaguar is between four to six feet and its tail is about thirty inches.

There is also a smaller panther like cat known as a Jaguarundi found in Mexico and South America. It is much smaller and different in appearance than what one might typically refer to as a panther, but it may often be the culprit of so called black panther sightings reported throughout the southwestern and south central United States. It is also possible, yet rare, to run across Bobcats with a rare black coloration that could be mistaken by some as a black panther.

In other areas of the world such as Africa, Malaysia, India or Southeast Asia you would likely be describing a black panther leopard. Panthers tend to be elusive, solitary and often but not always nocturnal. They are most active at sunrise and sunset. Jaguars communicate with a loud roar and various vocal sounds including deep, raspy, coughing grunts.

They use scent to mark their territory, a territory that can be as large as square miles, but are roaming cats and tend to move on after a few months. The Jaguar, like the one below, may be stockier than leopards, but they are still very agile, fast and adept at climbing trees. Both jaguars and leopards stalk their prey silently, preferably undercover and then pounce unexpectedly at the last minute.

But they differ a bit when it comes to "the kill". Leopards quickly kill their victims with a bite to the throat, whereas Jaguars usually kill by biting through the temporal bones of the skull - with an ability to kill their victim instantly in one bite. It is believed that most panthers prefer to avoid people but humans may occasionally be targeted as prey, particularly during times when other food sources are scarce.

White tail deer, cattle, armadillos, wild hogs, raccoons, even alligators can all be part of a typical Jaguar's diet. The habitat of an American black jaguar can vary and can include anything from the wet swamps of Florida to the arid scrub of New Mexico. But in general they like to live close to a water source such as a river. Jaguars in North America tend to be at the top of the food chain with humans being their only rivals for food or territory. Jaguars and leopards are just two species of big cats that can "roar" - the other two being lions and tigers.

In general, black jaguar, black leopard and other black panther sightings have been reported in various areas across the United States, including but not limited to Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky and Mississippi. Few of the sightings are officially documented and it is hard to know sometimes if the sightings are authentic.

It is possible that some of these black panther sightings are indeed cougars with black pigmentation or even smaller cats such as a jaguarundi or a black colored bobcat. I appreciated your comments and votes! Again, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and be safe if you travel! Interesting, informative hub. I've seen lots of wildlife, but never a wildcat.

I didn't realize that bobcats were so small. I was wondering - is the Florida panther endangered also? Great hub - voted up and interesting. Hello Sharkye11! I apologize for the delay in replying to your comment here. I have had some computer issues today. Hopefully have them resolved now. I have seen bobcats in my backyard, but never a mountain lion! Actually, that would scare the hell out of me!

You need to write a hub about that, I would love to hear all about it! Thank you for stopping in, reading and your great comment here! I have never seen an ocelot in person. I have had the honor to see the others, the lynx was in a zoo, the bobcat and mountain lion were up close and personal in my backyard!

I love the pictures in this hub! Voting up and more! Thank you bravewarrior! It is so sad that our wildcats are being hunted for financial gain. I have never heard of anyone hunting wildcats for food. Some people just don't care, all they think about is money. I'm glad your enjoyed my hub and I thank you for your wonderful comment!

Shiela, what an amazing, although sad hub! I have always been fascinated by wildcats. This is probably why I'm a cat lover and prefer them to dogs I have 3 cats. It is so sad to see what is happening to this majectic animal. They are being hunted for pure sport and financial gain. Not one of these videos mentioned hunting them for food.

We still have a few cougars, sometimes called Florida Panthers, living in the Everglades. It's a shame what Man is doing to Nature's cycle. I found it rather fascinating to learn the difference between 'lesser' cats and the larger lions, tigers, etc.

I was unaware of the purring versus roaring capabilities. Hello Larry. I have heard that the cougar are getting into areas that either they are new to or their presence just hasn't been documented yet. They say that we don't have cougars in my area, buy several people have reported seeing them. Thank you for useful comment, I will try to incorporate your information into my hub. Hello tsadjatko! No, I didn't know about the Pixiebobs. That is very interestesting!

I had not heard of the Bengal cats either. This information would make a great hub. You know more about these new species than I and it is your idea, maybe you should write the hub on this. Thank you so much for stopping in and reading and leaving such wonderful and informational comment! Great and interesting hub. Did you know they have crossed Bobcats with domestic cats and developed a domestic breed called Pixiebobs?

This is also what they've done with the Serval to create Savanah Cats and the Asian Leopard Cat to give a very popular domestic spotted breed called Bengal cats. A hub on those three breeds would be very interesting and beautiful. Hello Mary! I was replying to your kind comment and I'm not sure what happened, but everything disappeared.

I just want you to know how much I appreciarte your kind words and all your support. Thank for your votes and share! Hello Au fait! I love wild cats too. We have bob cats here, but I have only seen one twice. One of my sons was sitting in a tree stand during deer season and heard something move close by. When he looked in the tree beside hime, there sat a bob cat. Scared the crap out of him! He was afraid to move. The bob cat jumped down and just walked off.

Me and his dad couldn't help but laugh. Thank you for stopping in and leaving such an interesting comment. I enjoyed it! Thank you for the votes and share too!

Hi Sheila. I have always loved these cats. We actually had a Bobcat sighted nearby last week. Would love to see an Ocelot. Great job. VU, sharing, etc. Wonderful information on some of the most beautiful cats. How sad they, like so many others, are being driven out. You did a stellar job of giving us so much information on each of them. I have to agree the ocelot is a beautiful cat! I love cats, especially wild cats. Where I grew up in central Wisconsin we had lynx and bobcats roaming around and sometimes they would scream at night and the hair would raise up on the back of your neck.

The lynx especially, sounded just like a woman screaming as though her life were in danger. Hello Alastar! Thank you. I love animals and learning new things about them and then sharing that information. We have heard several stories about mountain lions being in our area, but I think that is mostly someone's imagination. I haven't heard of anyone finding any tracks or animals being found dead. I understand they are making a comeback and I am very glad.

I hate to see any animals on the verge of extinction. I would personally love to see an ocelot in the wild. Thank you for stopping in and commenting, it is always appreciated! Very fine compilation on the cats, Shelia. Cool vids too. The mountain lions are making a comeback in many places they were once thought extinct.

Many sightings and evidence from right here in N. Anyway all these beautiful creatures deserve and belong in what nature is left to them. Hello Grandmapearl! Thank you for your kind comment!

Yes, please be careful when walking in the woods. You really need to take someone with you, or at least a large dog. I am going to worry about you now! Thanks for stopping in and all your support, I really appreciate you!

Hi sgbrown! This is a very informative and interesting article. I particularly love the ocelot. What a beautiful animal. Not too long ago, a few mountain lions were introduced into the nearby area because of the large deer population. As a result, I keep a sharp eye out when I'm walking in the woods! Hello AliciaC! You are very welcome. I am glad you enjoyed my hub. I love anything to do with animals and nature.

Thank you for your kind words! Thank you for all the information and for sharing the beautiful photos and videos, sgbrown. These cats are fascinating animals! Your hub is informative and very enjoyable. Hello Rachel! Thank you! I would not be surprised to see a mountain lion almost anywhere these days.

Thank you for stopping in and commenting. I always enjoy hearing from you! Hello Eddy! Have a wonderful day too! Very cool hub!

My father thought I was just sleepy, but boy I tell ya, this thing looked like a mountain lion! Guess it really couldn't have been : Anyway, great hub! Hello Carol! I have seen 2 bobcats myself, here in Oklahoma. Housecats still have that natural wild instinct, don't they.

I almost brought home a baby bobcat that was found alone in the wild one time. I wasn't the one that found it. But at the time I lived in town and that would not have worked out well. Thank you for stopping in, commenting and voting.

I always appreciate hearing from you! I have seen a bobcat in Arizona. I look at my little housecats and know they have that wildness inbred somewhere. Watching them fight I know they do. This was very interesting and now I know where they all are. Hello Faith Reaper! Thank you for your kind words. I have also learned some things from "Dora". We watch her 3 days a week with our youngest granddaughter here! LOL I guess we are never to old to learn something new! Thank you for your comment and votes.

I always love hearing from you! Have a blessed day! Oh and congratulations on your new grandchild! Oh what beautiful creatures and imagery you have here. I did not know of all of these except the mountain lion, cougar, and bobcat. I leanred of the puma, sad to say, while watching "Dora the Explorer" with my granddaughters. LOL The Ocelt is so very beautiful. Thanks for this excellent hub here. Voted up, up, up. The wolf is endangered and rarest subspecies of gray wolf in the world.

Your email address will not be published. Mexican Rattlesnake Mexican Rattlesnake or Crotalus basiliscus is a large size and venomous pit viper species, found in western Mexico. Ocelot Ocelot is a medium-sized wild cat and similar in appearance to a clouded leopard or jaguar. Coatimundi White nosed coati or coatimundi are found in Mexico and New Mexico,member of the raccoon family.

Opossum Mexican mouse opossum is an arboreal species from Didelphidae family,mostly found dry deciduous forest and rainforest. Tamandua Tamandua is one of the two species anteaters, live in grassland and forest of southeastern Mexico. Mexican Redknee Tarantula Mexican Redknee Tarantula is one of the large species of terrestrial tarantula, found in mountain ranges in Mexico.

Mexican Wolf Mexican Wolf is one of the smaller species of Canidae and subspecies of gray wolf. Click To Comment.