The largest African feline predator. The largest wild cat in the world: description, habitat, features, dimensions, photos

Tops are very popular today. We will present you the top dangerous predators of our planet.

10th place. Wolf

Species - Wolf, order - Predators. The animal's body length is on average 105-160 cm. Weight is 32-50 kg.
The best habitat for the predator is the tundra, semi-deserts, steppes and forest-steppe zones. The wolf is a characteristic representative of the Predator Squad. To get food for themselves, wolves hunt their victims. These are mainly ungulates: antelope, deer, wild boar, roe deer, elk. Also, if there are settlements nearby where people live, then they can attack livestock.

9th place. Leopard

- a type of predator, belongs to the cat family. The animal's weight ranges from 32 to 40 kg, but occasionally can reach 100 kg. The leopard lives in all forests: tropical, subtropical and mixed. Also on mountain slopes, plains, savannas and in thickets along river banks. Mostly these animals live alone and go out hunting at night. The leopard feeds on deer, antelope, and roe deer, but can also hunt birds, rodents, and monkeys.

8th place. Jaguar

Jaguar is larger than a leopard. The weight of the animal can reach 136 kg. The jaguar lives in tropical forests, and most of them live in bushes that have dried out. The jaguar's prey includes ungulates such as deer. It can also feed on snakes, foxes, monkeys, birds, rodents and turtles. Willingly attack domestic animals.

7th place. a lion

The lion is second only to the tiger in size and is the second largest living cat on Earth.
The weight of the animal is 250 kg. These predators mainly live in savannas, but can sometimes also be found in shrubby areas and forests. They live in special so-called family groups– prides. This family usually includes related females, their offspring and several adult males. The main prey of lions are large ungulates, which they hunt in groups. It was also noted that lions attack people very often, but not purposefully.

6th place. Tiger

The tiger is the largest member of the cat family. Average weight animal from 180 to 250 kg.

The tiger finds food by hunting ungulate animals: deer, roe deer, wild boar.

It can also feed on other animals, including crabs, fish, turtles, crocodiles and even insects. This animal has no difficulty in catching prey that lives in a pond, since it loves to swim and is an excellent swimmer. Currently, the species of these predators is preserved in the north of Iran, Afghanistan, Thailand, Indochina, Nepal, and Burma. In Russia they are found only in the Far East, in the Primorsky Territory.

5th place. The Bears

Bear - belongs to the family of the predatory order. On this moment are the largest of the land predatory animals that live on Earth. For example, polar bears have a body length of about three meters and a weight of 725 to 1000 kg.

The most common habitats of these predators are dense forests, which alternate with swamps and ponds. In the forest, the bear feels safe and only there does it find refuge, and it goes out into open places to look for food. These animals feed mainly on berries, nuts, plants and fish. Hunting for large animals (boars, deer, elk and others) is carried out mainly by old males.

4th place. Crocodile

Crocodile belongs to the order of aquatic vertebrates. The average size of this animal is 4-5 m in length and reaches a weight of 400-500 kg. These animals live in all fresh water bodies of tropical countries. Crocodiles mostly go out hunting in the dark. Their prey is mainly fish, but they can also attack other prey, but only if they can handle it.

3rd place. Sharks

Shark is a species cartilaginous fish. The largest predatory shark is the white one. Its dimensions are about six meters, and its weight reaches 1900 kg. Sharks live in all oceans of the Earth (except for the Arctic Ocean).

Sharks feed on fish, squid, and can also attack other sharks and dolphins. This type of predator is the most dangerous for humans.

2nd place. killer whale

Killer whale is the most dangerous sea predator. The second name is killer whale.
Marine mammal order Cetaceans, family Dolphins. Female killer whales reach seven to eight meters in size and weigh four to five tons. Males are much larger: up to ten meters and about eight tons.

Tigers, lions, pumas, panthers, leopards are considered one of the largest animals among the cat family living in wildlife. Everyone knows about them. In our top largest wild cats in the world entered less known species, which also deserve due attention.

Manul opens the ranking of the largest wild cats in the world. The animal is similar to the usual domestic “purrs”, but is somewhat larger than them. The body length of the predator excluding the tail is 52-65 cm, and with it – approximately 1 meter. The largest representatives of this species can gain weight up to 5 kg. The predator lives mainly in Central and Central Asia. But it is also found in other regions, including Russia. Its diet consists of mice, gophers, partridges, lizards and other small animals. On average, the Pallas's cat lives 12 years.

The ninth place in the top is taken by pampas cat, other name - grass cat. The length of its body is on average 76 cm, and together with the tail it is about 1 m. At the withers, the animal can reach 35 cm. Weight does not exceed 7 kg. A cat lives in the grassy plains South America, feeding mainly on small rodents, birds and eggs. Fears large predators. Life expectancy is on average 12 years.

Long-tailed cat or margay ranks eighth among the largest wild cats in the world. She is a relative of the ocelot, but much smaller. The body length of Margay is 60-80 cm, and taking into account the tail – 1-1.2 m. In terms of weight, this is a fairly miniature cat, weighing up to 8 kg. The predator prefers to live in the dense green forests of Central and South America. Eats birds small mammals, lizards and frogs. Sometimes it can eat porcupines and sloths. On average, the animal lives about 10 years.

jungle cat or swamp lynx confidently ranks among the ten largest wild cat breeds. Predatory mammal has quite impressive dimensions compared to domestic pussy. The length of its body without a tail can reach 60-90 cm. The predator gains up to 12 kg in weight. The habitat is quite wide: Asia Minor, Central Asia, Transcaucasia, Dagestan, etc. Despite this, the jungle cat is very rare view, which is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the Red Book of Russia. The animal prefers to hide in reed thickets and avoids open areas. The predator, like many of its relatives, feeds on rodents, hares, ducks, pheasants, and young artiodactyls. He is also a good swimmer who is not averse to hunting fish.

Far Eastern (Amur) forest cat ranks sixth in the ranking of the largest wild cats in the world. The body, excluding the tail, is 0.75-0.9 m long, the tail is 35-37 cm. The weight of the predator most often does not exceed 6 kg. The beast chose its habitat Far East and coast Sea of Japan. The main delicacy Amur cat are small rodents, birds, their eggs, chipmunks and hares. Also, a large predator is not averse to hunting roe deer. Average duration life 10-12 years.

Representative of the forests Equatorial Africa golden cat is one of the largest among its closest relatives. Its body, together with its tail, has a length of 0.9-1.2 m and a height at the withers of 50 cm. Males are larger and can weigh up to 14 kg. This is a rather rare species of the cat family that prefers to live alone. At night the predator goes hunting, and during daylight hours it rests in the crown of a tree.

speckled cat or cat fisherman ranks fourth among the largest wild representatives of the cat breed. The length of its body is 0.96-1.2 m, and the height at the withers is 40.6 cm. The animal weighs no more than 15 kg. The predator received its second nickname because of its virtuoso ability to catch fish. Excellent swimmer and the fisherman has a very powerful and strong physique, and is quite capable of coping with young artiodactyls.

Top three big cats opens in the world serval or bush cat. This graceful, long-legged animal reaches 65 cm at the withers, and the body has a length of 0.9-1.35 m. During the hunt, the serval is capable of jumping up to 3 meters in height. These are born hunters who are able to extract food both from underground and water, and catch it in the air, making high soaring jumps. The lynx is considered to be a close relative of the predator. The population is distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Africa. The peculiarity of servals is that, unlike their close wild relatives, they are easily tamed and are able to live in captivity. Males can mate with regular domestic cats. As a result, the Savannah hybrid appeared, which is considered the largest among domestic cats.

Second place in the top Gobi (Chinese) cat. This species can be found exclusively in China in mountainous areas. The length of the animal with a tail is 0.98-1.4 m, and its weight reaches 9 kg. The height at the withers can reach 35 cm. Externally, the predator is somewhat reminiscent of a lynx due to the small tufts on its ears. It is one of the rarest animals: the population amounts to 10 thousand individuals. Its diet includes not only small animals, but also larger rodents - moles, rabbits, zokor. These individuals can also feast on reptiles and birds. Average life expectancy is 12 years.

The top 10 is headed by the largest wild cat in the world ocelot. Its dimensions are very impressive: the animal reaches 1-1.4 m in length and about half a meter at the withers. An adult weighs about 16 kg. The habitat of the population is rainforests America. The main diet of ocelots consists of small mammals, birds, reptiles and even snakes. The most large predators capable of handling a pig and even a donkey.

For those who dream of pet and wants to buy something non-trivial and unusual, excellent option will become the biggest cats. Their habits do not differ from their smaller relatives, but their size amazes the imagination and breaks all stereotypes. Contrary to popular belief, large breeds of domestic cats are very graceful, flexible and elegant. They require more attention, care and care, but compensate for all this with affection and love for the owner. So, here is a list of the largest domestic cats.

For those who dream of a pet and want to buy something non-trivial and unusual, the biggest cats are an excellent option.

This rating is quite arbitrary, since the largest domestic cats do not always differ so significantly in size from their other brothers, who did not find a place in the top. This is especially true for females, who by nature are always smaller than males.

10. Kurilian Bobtail. The hit parade of big cats opens with a large, handsome Kurilian Bobtail. The weight of an adult male ranges around 6.8 kg, females - from 3.5 to 5 kg. This breed was bred for Kuril Islands and at the end of the 20th century it was transported to the mainland. A characteristic feature of bobtails is their short tail. These graceful big cats can even compete with dogs in terms of affection for their owner and intelligence. Kurilian Bobtails are usually friendly and love attention.

9. Chartreuse. Chartreuse is a large cat whose breed is recognized throughout the world, except Britain. They began to be bred in the French city of Chartres, where the name of these large cats comes from. In the Middle Ages they were called cat-dogs - these animals were so muscular, strong and smart. Males weigh 6-7 kg, females - 5-6. Despite their attachment to their owner, Chartreux are not very talkative and often only purr.

Chartreux are large cats, the breed of which is recognized throughout the world, except Britain.

8. Pixie bob. A domestic cat that is almost identical in appearance to the bobcat is the pixie bob. The breed was artificially bred in the USA and is translated as “short-tailed elf.” You shouldn’t take the external severity and severity of these cats seriously: pixie-bobs love tenderness, are very tactful and unobtrusive. They do not reach the size of a lynx, but belong to the list of large cats weighing from 5 to 7.7 kg.

Pixie bob. A domestic cat that is almost identical in appearance to the lynx is the pixie bob.

7. Norwegian forest. The most resilient and adapted to harsh conditions a cat in the world is a beauty. This magnificent cat breed has very thick and long hair, fur folds on the neck, and a fluffy tail. The weight of an adult cat can reach 9 kg. Despite their size, these cats are agile, strong and fast. These are animals with innate hunting instincts, freedom lovers. But they also treat people quite friendly.

Norwegian forest. The most resilient cat in the world, adapted to harsh conditions

6. . Giant Van cats get their name from the area of the Turkish salt lake Van. Today, this breed of large cats is the rarest and is distributed mainly in Turkey. A typical Van has a truly cat-like disposition, is freedom-loving and independent, energetic and loves space. And also - swim. Perhaps this is due to the inextricable connection between his homeland and water.

Giant Van cats got their name from the area of the Turkish salt lake Van.

The biggest and largest cats in the world (video)

Top five largest cats in the world

A significant advantage that distinguishes really large breeds of cats is their rather high intelligence by cat standards.

5. Fifth place in the list of the most large breeds Domestic cats belong to the Siberian cat. The weight of adult seasoned Siberians is from 5 to 9 kg. Although this is domestic cat, he prefers the wide open spaces of the yard to the cramped conditions of the apartment. The Siberian cat is the largest cat breed in Russia, a hunter by nature, and for full life it needs a lot of space. Such pets are able to defend their territory and warn of the appearance of strangers.

The Siberian cat is the largest cat breed in Russia

4. . The British are real giants. Heaviest weight males of this breed weigh 10 kg, and females weigh 5-7 kg. The most popular color of the British is blue. They get along well with other pets, sedate and balanced, even lazy. Therefore, they tend to be overweight.

The British are real giants

3. Ragdoll. Phlegmatic ragdolls are one of the most common breeds in the world. The name of the breed translates as " Ragdoll" And this is not far from the truth, since these pets allow you to fiddle with them like a doll: pet them, squeeze them, drag them, comb them, and show love and tenderness in other ways. However, what joy could there be in carrying this huge ball of fur in your arms? After all, it weighs about 9-10 kg. It's a miracle with big eyes has a very original color.

Phlegmatic Ragdolls are one of the most common breeds in the world.

2. Maine Coon. According to legend, the Maine Coon breed came from crossing a cat and a raccoon. It was from these animals that the cats got their color, fluffy tail, some habits and unnatural big sizes. The weight of a male Maine Coon can reach 15 kg, and its height can be up to 40 cm. One of the representatives of this breed was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest cat in the world: its length was 123 cm. This is significantly longer than that of a baby. Despite the impressive size and great appearance, the Maine Coon is a completely domestic cat, peaceful, graceful and very neat.

According to legend, the Maine Coon breed originated from crossing a cat and a raccoon.

The diverse family of cats, numbering 37 species, is divided into two groups based on size: large and small. The classification is based not on the height of the animal at the withers, but on its features. anatomical structure. Therefore, biologists classify both representatives of the subfamily of large and small cats as the largest wild cats.

10.

Of all the cats inhabiting European forests, the largest is common lynx. The body weight of a male is about 29 kg, females are 4-6 kg lighter. The body length does not exceed 130 cm. Mammals live in Russia, Central Asia, Central and Northern Europe. At the beginning of the 20th century, the extermination of predators led to the threat of their extinction. Today, lynx fishing is prohibited everywhere.

The animal with tasseled ears and a short tail seems cute and harmless. But under the spotted thick coat hides a skillful and cunning hunter, capable of smelling prey at a distance of 2 km. Its victims include hares, foxes, birds, rodents and small ungulates: roe deer and musk deer. Lynx never attacks people. Even an adult caught by a person is easily tamed and becomes a pet.

9. Snow Leopard

To date, the number of snow leopards is unknown. The snow leopard, which lives far from people, is the most poorly studied representative of the feline tribe. Muscular wild cat found in mountainous areas Central Asia And Southern Siberia at an altitude of 1.5–5 thousand m above sea level. Short, thick paws equipped with wide pads are adapted for walking on loose snow, and the ability to make 8-meter jumps helps to overcome deep crevasses.

The four-legged inhabitant of mountain peaks resembles a leopard in posture and size. The height of the male reaches 65 cm, weight - 55 kg. Fluffy gray-beige fur reliably protects from cold and camouflages in snowy gorges. Distinctive feature exterior - a meter-long thick tail, which the snow leopard uses as a rudder when running and jumping.

8.

Despite the height at the withers, reaching 92 cm, and the weight of 65 kg, zoologists classify the cheetah as a subfamily of small cats. This is due to the peculiarities of the skeleton - the mammal has long thin limbs, a compact skull and an extremely flexible spine. This structure allows the animal to reach speeds of up to 120 km/h. Helps him in hunting a long tail, serving as a balancer and helping to quickly change the direction of movement.

In appearance, the sprinter of the fauna world resembles graceful dog Russian greyhound breed. Like dogs, giant cats do not retract their claws, cannot climb trees, do not ambush hunt, and do not tend to eat carrion. The sounds they make resemble abrupt yelps. Unlike most of their relatives, cheetahs quickly get used to humans. In Iran, India and Kievan Rus tamed animals often helped people hunt.

7. Leopard

Muscular elongated body, strong legs and excellent eyesight make the leopard an ideal killer. Chasing prey, the powerful flexible cat accelerates to 58 km/h and makes jumps 7 m long. With a body weight of up to 66 kg, it is capable of killing prey 3 times its weight. The hunter always lifts the desired trophy up a tree for the subsequent meal.

The size of the predator directly depends on geographical features range. Yes, four-legged inhabitants open spaces grow up to 75 cm, forest dwellers - up to 67 cm. Decorated with a spotted pattern, the short, thick fur fits tightly to the body. The belly and inner side of the legs are light yellow, the rest of the body is golden brown. Individuals with a black color are called panthers.

6.

This representative of the cat family is a champion in the number of names. Residents different countries the puma is familiar as the Mexican lion, panther, mountain screamer, red tiger, cougar... In total, there are 83 definitions of an animal whose beauty and grace are combined with ruthlessness and composure.

The puma's habitat is the forests and mountainous regions of America. The silhouette of the predator resembles a small lioness. The height of the golden beauty is 60–85 cm, weight is about 90 kg. A distinctive character trait of the puma is patience. Waiting for prey, it sits in ambush for a long time, without giving away its presence. Once caught in a trap, the mammal calmly tries to get out of the grip. In case of failure, he falls into melancholy and motionlessly awaits death.

5.

The golden skin of this massive predator, whose height at the withers varies from 69 to 79 cm, and weight from 68 to 135 kg, is painted with bright patterns - black spots and rings. Intricate colors help to perfectly camouflage among bushes and trees. The jaguar has no equal in pursuing prey. The hardy mammal covers tens of kilometers every day, it swims well and runs fast. The hunter kills with one leap - the blow of a powerful paw can break the victim's spine.

The range of jaguars is Central and South America. The Olmec Indians inhabited these lands in the 2nd century BC. e., they believed that people and huge spotted cats had common ancestors. Today, the graceful animal, once revered by man, is in danger of extinction and is listed in the Red Book.

4. Leo

You cannot find two absolutely identical lions on the planet. The “facial” features of each animal are unique and belong to only one individual. The body length of the royal individuals of the fauna world is 1.7–2.5 m, height - up to 1.2 m, weight - 160–280 kg. The largest specimen lived in South Africa and weighed 313 kg.

In hunting, the lion is helped by 7-centimeter claws and vision, the acuity of which is 6 times greater than that of a human. Running is not the best strong point predator. On short distances The giant cat accelerates to 60 km/h, but after 200 m it gets tired and stops pursuing its prey. Lack of stamina forces the animal to get as close as possible to the victim and in a swift jump inflict a fatal blow. Lionesses are lighter and faster than males, and therefore more successful in hunting.

3.

The royal representative of the panther genus lives in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China. Bengal tiger. In Russia its population is 5 individuals. The predatory mammal is one of the largest cats in the world. Resident height tropical forests reaches 115 cm, weight - 275 kg. A terrifying roar can be heard at a distance of 3 km. The deadly fangs grow up to 10 cm. The record weight of a male killed in an Indian forest in 1967 was 388.7 kg.

Among Bengal tigers there are amazing creatures, whose snow-white fur is covered with brown stripes. All white individuals have one ancestor - the male Mohan, who was born in 1951 as a result of a gene mutation.

2.

The largest wild cat found in natural environment habitat, lives on the territory of Russia, in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories and the mountainous regions of Sikhote-Alin. Outside the Russian Federation, the animal is found only in northeast China.

The smallest representative of the tiger brotherhood has the following characteristics:

body length -1.7–2.8 m, tail - 1.1 m;
height at withers - 110–120 cm;
weight - 167–280 kg;
length of fangs - 8 cm.

Like all cats (except lions), Amur tigers They lead a solitary lifestyle, protecting their territory from competitors. The animal hunts alone. He is an absolute predator - a huge hungry cat can even attack a bear.

Now the number of animals does not exceed 800 individuals, half of which are kept in zoos. The endangered species is listed in the Red Book, and its extermination is punishable by law. In China, killing a striped animal is punishable by death.

1.

The result of the love between the tigress Isla and the lion Arthur, who shared a common enclosure at the American theme park Jungle Island, became a kitten, which was later destined to top the ranking of the largest cats on the planet. Having reached maturity, the liger Hercules surpassed his parents in size. His height is 186 cm, weight - 410 kg. Standing on his hind legs, the giant reaches the roof of a double-decker bus. The gaping mouth is as wide as the shoulder girdle of an adult man.

Hercules is not the only representative of the hybrid genus. In 1973, the Guinness Book of Records added a record of a giant weighing 798 kg from South Africa. natural park. In 2004, a female was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo - the result of crossing African lion and the Bengal tigress. It is impossible to meet a liger under natural conditions - tigers and lions have different habitats.

Everyone knows that cats can be divided into two groups: wild and domestic. You see the latter every day and know about them firsthand. But representatives of the felines, which can be called “wild cats”... You have probably heard relatively little about them. Today we will study these cats in detail.

1. African wild cat

Inhabits steppe, desert and sometimes mountainous regions of Western, Middle and Central Asia, Africa, Northern India, Kazakhstan and Transcaucasia. Very common in its habitat.

2. Bengal dwarf cat

Lives in East and South Asia. It is endangered, but in some places it has already become a rare species.

Lives on the island of Kalimantan. It is a rare and little-studied species.

Few people have not heard of the cheetah. This is the fastest wild cat and, in general, land animal in the world. In the Middle Ages, cheetahs were distributed throughout Asia, Africa and even Europe. But due to their subsequent mass destruction, today the habitats of cheetahs are only remote and protected places in Africa.

5. Gobi cat

It lives in the grassy steppes northwest of the Gobi Desert. Like the Borneo cat, it is a little-studied species.

6. Forest wild cat

The habitat of these cats is deciduous and mixed forests. Due to deforestation in many European countries, this species has completely disappeared. Today there is a struggle to preserve unique forest wild cats.

7. Geoffroy's cat

It lives throughout the territory from Southern Brazil to Patagonia. It is unknown whether she has enemies, and scientists are also in the dark about her reproduction. The specific epithet in the name of this cat is given in honor of the zoologist Etienne Geoffroy.

8. Golden cat

It lives mainly in the Congo Basin and surrounding areas. Due to the degradation of the forests of Equatorial Africa, in 1996 there were only 10,000 adult individuals left in the world. Now in all countries hunting for golden cats is prohibited.

Lives in Central and South Asia. Estimates of the number of this species due to its secretive lifestyle and inaccessible habitat are indicative, but it is reliably known that due to poaching its numbers decrease annually.

10. Iriomotey cat

It lives only on Iriomote Island, which is located 200 km east of Taiwan. Due to its small number (less than a hundred) and small habitat, this subspecies of the Bengal cat is listed in the International Red Book.

11. Jungle cat

Distributed throughout Asia. Adapted to living in thickets of reeds and thorny bushes. It was listed in the Red Book of Russia.

12. Caracal

Found in the deserts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Turkmenistan. Caracals have excellent hearing and hunt rodents, reptiles and small mammals at night. Asian subspecies of caracals are very rare and are considered endangered.

Who doesn’t know the lion - the king of beasts? Males of this species can be distinguished by the long mane that frames its neck. Lions are the only wild cats that live not alone, but in special groups- prides. Due to their declining numbers, lions are a vulnerable species.

14. Leopard

Lives in Africa and East Asia. Leopard for a long time considered a hybrid of a lion and a panther. Listed in the Red Book of the IUCN and Russia as an endangered species.

15. Clouded leopard

Distributed in southeast Asia. Clouded leopards They live alone and in thickets. This species is endangered - of its four subspecies, only three remain.

Distributed in Central and Central Asia. In different areas it is classified as a rare, extremely rare and endangered animal.

Lives in damp, dense evergreen forests South and Central America. Margs are endangered. Hunting them is prohibited everywhere.

18. Oncilla

Found in the northeast of mainland South America. It is not protected, but its numbers are very small.

19. Pampas cat

Lives on the plains of South America. Hunts mainly at night on rodents, birds and lizards.

Lives in the USA and Canada. Four subspecies of puma are listed in the IUCN Red Book.

21. Dune cat

Lives in Western Europe and Central Asia. Their total population size is unknown. Due to frequent hunting and deforestation, where they live, they are listed in the IUCN Red Book.

22. Fishing cat