Name: Cheetah, Jaguar, Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Giant Lynx, Tiger (Animals) Stats: Cheetah Jaguar Leopard Lion ----------------------------------------------- No. Appearing : 1-4 1-2 1-2 2-12 Climate/Terrain: Warm plains Tropical Tropical Warm plains and grass- jungle jungle or and grass- lands forest lands Frequency : Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon Uncommon Organization : Family gr. Solitary Solitary Pride Activity Cycle : Day Any Any Day Diet : Carnivore Carnivore Carnivore Carnivore M. Lion G. Lynx Tiger ----------------------------------- No. Appearing : 1-2 1-4 1-4 Climate/Terrain: Any warm or Subarctic Subarctic temperate forest, to tropical forest forest Frequency : Uncommon Rare Uncommon Organization : Solitary Solitary Solitary Activity Cycle : Dawn/Dusk Night Night Diet : Carnivore Carnivore Carnivore Description: The great cats are among the most efficient of all predators. Cheetah: The cheetah is a medium-sized, lightly built cat. Its fur is sand co- lored and it is covered with dark spots. The cheetah is unique among cats because of its non-retractable claws. A skilled hunter endowed with a natural camouflage, victims of a cheetah are most of the time surprised by the attack. They are famed for their tremendous bursts of speed, and can run at triple speed (15 feet per second) for 10 seconds. The cat must rest another 10 seconds before sprinting again. Cheetahs can spring 10 feet upward or 20 feet forward. Cheetahs inhabit warm plains and grasslands, often sharing their range with lions. Their fa- vourive prey are the antelope that inhabit the plains, and they rarely attack men. Cheetahs are territorial, but may live alone, in pairs and in groups. The female raises a litter of 2-4 young alone. The young, who stay with their mother for as long as 2 years, can be completely trained and domesticated. The fortunes of the cheetah rise and fall with its prey; when the population of antelope and other game declines, so does that of the cheetah. Jaguar: The jaguar is a powerful cat with a deep chest and muscular limbs. Its color ranges from light yellow to brownish red, and it is covered with dark spots. The jaguar will attack anything that it perceives as a threat. It relies on stealth to close with its prey, often pouncing from above. The jaguar can leap 30' to attack. The jaguar inhabits jun- gles, spending a great deal of time in tree tops. It climbs, swims and stalks superbly. Jaguars are solitary and territorial, meeting only to mate. If found in a lair, there is a 75% chance there will be 1-3 cubs. Cubs do not fight effectively. Their strength and ferocity make jaguars one of the most feared predators of the jungle. Leopard: The leopard is a graceful cat with a long body and relatively short legs. Its color varies from buff to tawny, and its spots are rosette shaped. Leopards can spring upward 20 feet of ahead 25 feet. They are solitary, inhabiting warm deserts, forest, plains and mountains. They hunt both day and night, preying on animals up to the size of large an- telopes. They swim and climb well, and will often sit in treetops sun- ning themselves. Leopards will also drag their prey to safety in the treetops to devour in peace. The female bears 1-3 young, and cares for them for up to two years. The young have no effective attack. A skilled predator, the leopard is often threatened by human incursions. In areas where it is hunted, it is nocturnal. Lion: Among the largest and most powerful of the great cats, lions have yel- low or golden brown fur. The males are distinguished by their flowing manes. Both male and female lions are fierce fighters. Lions hut in prides, with females doing most of the actual hunting. All lions can leap as far as 30 feet. Liions prefer warmer climates, thriving in de- serts, jungles, grasslands, and swamps. They live and hunt in prides, and are extremely territorial. A pride usually consists out of 1-3 males and 1-10 femals. Lions frequently kill animals the size of zebras or giraffes. Lionesses will cooperate in hunting, driving their prey into an ambush. They have been known to attack domestic livestock, but will almost never attack men. A lair will contain from 1-10 cubs which are 30%-60% grown. Cubs are unable to fight. Lions are poor climbers and dislike swimming. Lions flourish only when the supply of game is adequate. Their size and strength have made them a favourite target of human hunters. Mountain Lion: Not a true lion, this brownish cat is lankier than its large cousins. Except for their size, males and females are difficult to tell apart. The mountain lion is more cautious and less aggressive than its larger relatives. They can spring upward 15 feet or ahead 20 feet to attack or retreat. It will not attack men unless threatened. Mountain lions range in warm and temperate mountains, forests, swamps and plains. They are solitary, with males and females each maintaining separate territories. Their favourite prey are deer. The female rears 2-4 cubs alone, which remain with her for 1-2 years. The mountain lion is flexible and elu- sive. It is adept at surviving on the fringes of human civilization. Giant Lynx: The giant lynx is distinguished by its tufted ears and cheeks, short bobbed tail and dappled coloring. It has a compact muscular body, with heavy legs and unusually large paws. The giant lynx is the most intel- ligent of the great cats and uses its wits in combat. It can leap up to 15 feet, but it almost never attacks men. The giant lynx prefers cold coniferous and scrub forests. They can communicate in their own lan- guage with others of its kind, which greatly increases its chances of survival. The nocturnal lynx stalks or ambushes its prey, catching ro- dents, young deer, grouse or other small game. The cubs remain with their mother for 6 months. The giant lynx has all the advantages of the great cats plus the added bonus of a high intelligence which makes it even more adaptable. Tiger: The tiger is the largest and most feared of the great cats. Tigers have reddish-orange fur and dark vertical stripes. A tiger is a redoubtable foe in battle and is almost never surprised. They are experts in stal- king and often hunt in pairs or groups. They can leap 10 feet upward and spring forward 30 feet to 50 feet to attack. This species ranges from the subarctic to the tropics, generally inhabiting wooded or co- vered terrain. Tigers are nocturnal, solitary, graceful climbers and swimmers who are capable of sustained high speed. These animals rarely fight among themselves, but will protect their territories ferociously. They are also thee most unpredictable and dangerous of the great cats, not hesitating to attack men. Their favourite prey includes cattle, wild pugs and deer. Females raise teir 1-3 cubs alone. The cubs remain with their mother for several years. Feared by men, tigers hunt aggres- sively, and are threatened by the destruction of forests. In the un- tamed wilderness, however, the tiger occupies the top predatory niche.