Panthera taxonomy and phylogeny

Class:   Mammalia (mammals)  
Order:   Carnivora (carnivores)  
Family:   Felidae (felines)  
Genus:   Panthera  

The Felidae family consists of feline predators and can be divided into two subfamilies: the Pantherinae and the Felinae. The Pantherinae family includes the five big cat species, found within the genus Panthera: the lion (Panthera leo), tiger (Panthera tigris), jaguar (Panthera onca), leopard (Panthera pardus) and snow leopard (Panthera uncia). FOUR PAWS focuses on these big cat species.

All the big cat species are declining worldwide. The main threats to big cat populations are habitat loss, human–wildlife conflict, (illegal) wildlife trade and hunting. Wild population numbers would benefit more from habitat protection than from the release of captive big cats into these environments.

A group of lionesses

Lions

The lion (Panthera leo) is the only true social wild big cat and is found in Africa and Asia. Prides typically consists of 1-20 related females, their offspring and 1-9 often related males (average 2-4). The females typically stay within one pride, although the entire pride is rarely all together at once. Pride cohesiveness is dependent on prey availability. 

The color of the coat varies from yellow-brown and grey to orange and dark brown. It is possible to identify individual lions based on their whisker spot pattern. Some lions have a white coat. These lions are not albino and are not a separate (sub)species but have a recessive mutation that results in the white skin and lighter eyes. White lions exist in the wild in the Greater Kruger in southern Africa, but they are mostly found in captivity. As the mutation is recessive and rare, most captive white lions are inbred, negatively affecting their health and welfare. White lions are often cross-eyed, which is a sign of inbreeding. 

Taxonomy and distribution
According to IUCN, there are two subspecies:

Scientists have however proposed a different split into subspecies, which is still being researched. This split includes two subspecies, Panthera leo leo (Asia and West, Central and North Africa), and Panthera leo melanochaita (South and East Africa).

Status
The estimate of the total number of mature lions in the wild is between 23,000 and 39,000 (IUCN), with a global decline of 43% between 1993 and 2014. Most of the lions are found in East and southern Africa. It is believed that they are currently found in 8% of their historic range.

Hunting behavior
Lions are opportunistic hunters, killing anything they encounter, but they prefer larger herbivores (132-1,213 lbs). They mainly hunt during twilight or during the night. Females do most of the hunting, although when males participate in the hunts, success rate is often increased for larger preys (such as buffalo, giraffe, and elephants). Hunting success is typically low, ranging from 15% (Etosha NP, Namibia) to 38.5% (Kalahari). Lions also scavenge, with intake rates as high as 40% (Serengeti NP, Tanzania).

Quick facts

The lion (Panthera leo) is the only true social wild big cat and is found in Africa and Asia.

Tiger

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a solitary big cat species and is known to be the biggest big cat in the wild, although sizes do vary from 309 lbs to up to 575 lbs. The largest tiger in captivity weighed 717 lbs. The basic color of the coat varies from dark red to pale yellow and the pattern and darkness of the stripes vary. In general, tigers from northern regions are lighter with fewer stripes. The coat is short, except for the thick, long winter fur in far eastern Russian regions. The patterns on the flanks and the head are unique per individual.

Some tigers have a white coat. These tigers are not albino and are not a separate (sub)species but have a recessive mutation that results in the white skin. White tigers are rarely recorded in the wild and are mostly found in captivity. As the mutation is rare and recessive, most captive white tigers are inbred, negatively affecting their health and welfare. White tigers are often cross-eyed, which is a sign of inbreeding.

Taxonomy and distribution
According to IUCN there are nine subspecies, of which three or four are extinct:

There are however varied opinions regarding the interpretation of the existing data used to divide tigers into the different subspecies. Hence, this taxonomy is currently under review by the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group.

Status
The tiger is an endangered big cat species with estimated numbers of 2,608 – 3,905 mature individuals, with the best estimate of 3,140 (IUCN). Tigers used to be found in a wide range of Asian countries, but have disappeared from many of these countries over the past 100 years. This species is now found in less than 7% of their historic range. In addition to habitat loss, tigers are under threat due to poaching for Traditional Medicines and commercial trade.

Hunting behavior
Tigers are diverse hunters, capable of killing prey up to 1,000 kg in weight. They are opportunistic hunters, killing almost everything they encounter, and hunting activity is mostly at night and during twilight. Tigers are believed to be the large carnivore that kills the most people. This is probably caused by the fact that human populations are very dense in Asia and there are quite a lot of people that use tiger habitat intensively. Tigers also scavenge and steal kills from other predators.

Quick facts

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a solitary big cat species and is known to be the biggest big cat in the wild.

Leopard

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a very tolerant species, which can persist in many different habitats. They are known to be able to survive in high human densities. Additionally, they can cope with extremely cold temperatures (-22 °F in Russian boreal forests) and extremely hot temperatures (158 °F in deserts). Leopards are solitary and extremely territorial.

The coat color varies from bright golden yellow to pale yellow and rust red yellow, with a white belly. The coat is short with black spots on the head, neck, shoulders, legs and backside. On the side and the back, the black spots form broken circles or rosettes. Melanistic forms, known as black leopards or black panthers, also occur. 

Taxonomy and distribution
According to IUCN there are nine subspecies:

The taxonomy for P. pardus is currently under review by the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group.

Status
The number of leopards globally is unknown, although it is believed that populations are declining. Range declines has been substantial over the past three generations (22.3 years), due to habitat destruction, prey reductions due to the bushmeat trade, illegal harvest, and human-leopard conflict.

For some subspecies there are population estimates available:

Amur Leopard (P. p. orientalis) - Critically Endangered: < 60

Arabian Leopard (P. p. nimr) - Critically Endangered: 45-200

Javan Leopard (P. p. melas) - Critically Endangered: 350-525, with <  250 mature   breeding adults

Sri Lankan Leopard (P. p. kotiya) - Endangered: 700-950

Persian Leopard (P. p. saxicolor) - Endangered: 800-1,000

Hunting behavior
Leopards are known to be hunting on various prey items, ranging from small arthropods to large mammals. However, they prefer medium-sized ungulates, such as impala and antelope species. They are also known for hunting primates, birds, dogs and livestock. They can carry prey items of up to 200 lbs. into trees to prevent other carnivores from stealing it.

Quick facts

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a very tolerant species, which can persist in many different habitats. 

Jaguar

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a solitary species. Jaguars are territorial but overlap occurs frequently. The jaguar is the third largest cat in the world, but the largest cat of the Americas. However, sizes vary greatly. Smaller jaguars can be found in Central America, while jaguars double this size can be found in the wet woodland savannah habitats in Venezuela and Brazil. It is the only Panthera species that lives in the New World. The basic color of the coat varies from pale gold to a rust red and is covered with a series of round dark spots or rosettes with smaller dots within them (unlike leopards). Black (melanistic) jaguars, also referred to as black panthers, are common.

Taxonomy and distribution
There are no known subspecies of jaguars, although this remains to be studied further. Preliminary research has shown that some populations, specifically in Mexico, Guatemala, southern Central America, northern South America, South America south of the Amazon River, are isolated phylogeographically. Additionally, in Colombia, the Andes Mountains isolates, although incompletely, different jaguar populations.

Status
It is unknown how many individuals exist in the wild, but their number is decreasing. The jaguar is believed to be extinct in 51% of its former range and extinct in multiple countries, including for example El Salvador and Uruguay.

Hunting behavior
The jaguar has a diverse diet, with at least 85 recorded prey species. Compared to other wild cats, jaguars also hunt for reptiles (for example caimans and snakes). Jaguars have proportionally the strongest bite of all big cats. 

Quick facts

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a solitary species. Jaguars are territorial but overlap occurs frequently.

Snow leopard

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a solitary species, found in high mountain habitats. Snow leopards keep a stable large home range, but it is unknown whether this home range is defended as a territory. Snow leopards are adapted to cope with deep snow, rugged terrains and high altitudes. Due to the distribution and habitat use of snow leopards, they are extremely difficult to study and very little is known about this species. The basic color varies from smoke grey to tan, with a white belly. Covered with dark grey to black open rosettes with small spots of the same color on the head and larger spots on the legs and tail. Snow leopards have pale green or grey eyes, which is an unusual eye color for felines. They have a long, thick coat and are smaller than the other big cat species.

Taxonomy and distribution
According to IUCN there are no subspecies of snow leopards. Although not confirmed by genetic analysis, morphological differences show two subspecies. The snow leopard is most closely related to the tiger and is found in 12 different Central Asian countries in the high mountain ranges, including the Altai, Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Pamirs and Tien.

Status
According to IUCN there are between 2,710 and 3,386 mature individuals, although due to the landscape where this species occurs, it is extremely difficult to estimate numbers.

Hunting behavior
Snow leopards eat both small and large prey species and are incredibly agile over extremely steep and rugged terrain.

Quick facts