Wild Cats
Written and Illustrated by Lisa Brady
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The Bengal tiger is a large, striped cat from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma. It lives in a variety of habitats, including rainforests and dense grasslands. The Bengal tiger can live to about 18 years in captivity, and probably a few years less in the wild. Bengal tigers are mostly solitary, but sometimes travel in groups of 3 or 4. These tigers are in danger of extinction due to over-hunting by poachers.
Anatomy: Male Bengal tigers are up to 10 ft (3 m) long; females are up to 9 ft (2.7 m) long. The tail is about 3 feet (0.9 m) long. The fur is usually orange-brown with black stripes. The fur on the belly is white with black stripes. White Bengal tigers (with white fur and black stripes) are very rare in the wild. Tigers have long, sharp teeth in powerful jaws.
Diet: The Bengal tiger is a carnivore (meat-eater). The tiger often kills its prey with a bite on the neck. It eats deer, pigs, antelopes, cattle, young elephants, and buffalo.
Anatomy: Male Bengal tigers are up to 10 ft (3 m) long; females are up to 9 ft (2.7 m) long. The tail is about 3 feet (0.9 m) long. The fur is usually orange-brown with black stripes. The fur on the belly is white with black stripes. White Bengal tigers (with white fur and black stripes) are very rare in the wild. Tigers have long, sharp teeth in powerful jaws.
Diet: The Bengal tiger is a carnivore (meat-eater). The tiger often kills its prey with a bite on the neck. It eats deer, pigs, antelopes, cattle, young elephants, and buffalo.
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Jaguars are wild cats that live in rain forests, swamps, deserts, and shrubby areas from South and Central America. These solitary felines often have dens in caves. Jaguars are territorial. They are very good swimmers. Jaguars are an endangered species due to loss of habitat and over-hunting by man.
Anatomy: These graceful cats grow to be about 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) long; the tail is 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 m) long. Jaguars are bigger than leopards, and their dark markings are arranged in a rosette of 4 or 5 spots placed around a central lighter-colored spot.
Diet: These large cats are carnivores (meat-eaters). They hunt mammals, reptiles, birds, and eggs, including capybaras, peccaries, tapirs, turtles, and alligators. They often bury their prey after killing it, in order to eat it later. They hunt mostly at night; they are nocturnal.
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The Cougar, Puma, Mountain Lion, Panther, or Catamount (Felis concolor) is a fierce cat that lives deep in deciduous forests, rain forests, grasslands, and deserts of North America and South America. These solitary cats can purr but cannot roar. Very athletic, these cats are excellent jumpers, climbers and swimmers.
Cougars have a life span of about 8 years. There are many subspecies of cougar. Cougars are an endangered species due to loss of habitat and over-hunting by man.
Anatomy: The cougar has keen eyesight and good hearing. It has a small head, big ears, powerful jaws, long, pointed canine teeth, and sharp, retractable claws on each foot. The brown eyes have circular pupils. These powerful cats are up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long, plus a long tail that is 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) long. It weighs up to 200 pounds (90 kg). The young have a spotted coat, but become solid tan to gray-brown at six months of age.
Diet: The cougar is a carnivore (a meat-eater). It is a fast, solitary hunter that hunts both during the day and at night. It eats deer, wild hogs, sheep, moose, elk, rabbits, hares, rodents (like beavers), raccoons, some birds, and livestock. Cougars stalk their prey and then ambush it by leaping from the ground or from a tree. They kill large animals by pouncing on the back and breaking the neck. They bury large prey with leaves and twigs to hide the carcass from other animals until they are able to finish eating it.
Cougars have a life span of about 8 years. There are many subspecies of cougar. Cougars are an endangered species due to loss of habitat and over-hunting by man.
Anatomy: The cougar has keen eyesight and good hearing. It has a small head, big ears, powerful jaws, long, pointed canine teeth, and sharp, retractable claws on each foot. The brown eyes have circular pupils. These powerful cats are up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long, plus a long tail that is 2-3 ft (60-90 cm) long. It weighs up to 200 pounds (90 kg). The young have a spotted coat, but become solid tan to gray-brown at six months of age.
Diet: The cougar is a carnivore (a meat-eater). It is a fast, solitary hunter that hunts both during the day and at night. It eats deer, wild hogs, sheep, moose, elk, rabbits, hares, rodents (like beavers), raccoons, some birds, and livestock. Cougars stalk their prey and then ambush it by leaping from the ground or from a tree. They kill large animals by pouncing on the back and breaking the neck. They bury large prey with leaves and twigs to hide the carcass from other animals until they are able to finish eating it.
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Source: www.enchantedlearning.com
Created with CAST's UDL Book Builder