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Jaguars vs Cheetahs: Who will win the battle?

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Jaguars and cheetahs are two of the fastest and deadliest cats in their respective regions of the world. Interestingly, the two mammals look very similar; they are both big spotted cats. However, jaguars live in South America, while cheetahs live in Africa, and they are absolutely unique creatures. What would happen if we pitted these nimble, capable killers against each other in a jaguar-versus-cheetah game?

We don't have to sail across oceans to find this answer. Using the information available to us, we can predict how this battle will play out in real life. Discover which of these cats is more advanced.

Comparing Jaguars and Cheetahs

jaguar vs cheetah
Jaguars and cheetahs may look similar, but there are many differences between them.

© AZ-Animals.com

jaguar cheetah
size Weight: 120 – 300 lbs Length: 3.5' – 5.5' Height: 2' – 2.5' at the shoulder Weight: 80 lbs – 140 lbs Length 3.5 ft – 5 ft Height: 2 ft – 3 ft
speed and movement type 50 mph – gallop 70 mph – stride
Bite Force and Teeth 1,500 PSI bite force
-30 teeth – 2 inch fangs
400-500PSI Bite Force – 30 Teeth – 1” Canines
the senses – Strong sense of smell – Powerful night vision, several times better than human vision.
– excellent hearing
– great night vision
– excellent sense of smell, which helps them find prey – wonderful hearing picked up on many frequencies
defense – Speeds beyond everything within its range – Can rest comfortably in trees to compensate for lack of pack mentality – Able to climb trees to avoid predators – Strong swimmer – speed
offensive ability – strong, sharp, short claws – powerful bite and long teeth – Speed in pursuit of enemies – uses bite force and weight to knock down and strangle large prey
-Sharp wolf claws do extra damage during attacks
predatory behavior – Ambush predators, can attack from trees – Ambush other creatures by spotting and chasing them.

The key factor in the fight between jaguars and cheetahs

Types of Big Cats - Cheetahs
The cheetah vs. jaguar battle will ultimately come down to physical traits like speed and aggressive instincts.

© Elana Erasmus/Shutterstock.com

In a battle between such powerful felines, what determines the winner? We've listed six of the most important factors that affect the outcome of a battle. From each creature's physical traits to its invisible fighting instincts, we'll examine these key factors and discover which creature has a real advantage in battle.

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Physical Characteristics of Jaguars and Cheetahs

Close up portrait of angry leopard
Cheetahs are smaller, lighter and faster than jaguars.

©iStock.com/Byrdyak

Defense, strength, and speed are all physical traits that have a profound and measurable impact on a battle between two creatures. Take a look at the five physical dimensions between jaguars and cheetahs to see which has an advantage over the other in a fight.

Jaguar vs Cheetah: Size

The jaguar can weigh up to 300 pounds, measure 5.5 feet in length, and reach a height of 2.5 feet at the shoulder when standing. This is a very large cat, the largest jaguar ever recorded weighed 328 lbs! Cheetahs are smaller, weighing up to 140 pounds, standing 2-3 feet long and growing to 5 feet long.

Jaguars are larger than cheetahs, giving them a size advantage.

Jaguar vs Cheetah: Speed and Athletic

Both cheetahs and jaguars are known for their speed and are the fastest on their respective continents. Jaguars can reach incredible speeds of 50 mph, but cheetahs are definitely fuzzy, running at 70 mph or more to catch their prey.

Cheetahs are faster than jaguars and have an advantage in speed.

Jaguars vs Cheetahs: Bite Force and Teeth

Both cats use their bites to take down prey. Jaguars have a powerful bite force of 1,500 PSI and their longest teeth are 2 inches long.

Cheetahs have smaller teeth because they are built around breathing and maintaining high speed rather than brute force. They can only bite at around 400-500PSI and the teeth are about an inch long.

Jaguars are better at biting than cheetahs.

Jaguar vs Cheetah: The Senses

Cheetahs are ambush predators that use their keen senses to find their enemies. They have amazing senses of sight, hearing and smell, all of which are used to spot enemies and eliminate them. Jaguars are similar in that they have excellent night vision, a strong sense of smell and excellent hearing.

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Jaguars and cheetahs are a sensual juxtaposition.

Jaguars vs Cheetahs: Physical Defense

Cheetahs have only one physical defense: fleeing. The creature was built for speed, which it can use to great effect in chasing prey or escaping predators. Jaguars are also very fast, but their ability to climb trees and swim in water makes them more elusive than cheetahs.

The jaguar has more defense than the cheetah, and the advantage is obvious.

Jaguar and Cheetah Fighting Skills

guyanese jaguar
Jaguars use their 2-inch teeth and ambush skills to attack prey.

©Pedro Helder Pinheiro/Shutterstock.com

Jaguars are ambush predators that stalk their prey and attack with powerful bites to the throat or other vital parts before they pursue them. They also use their sharp claws to inflict additional damage on their prey. They can even sit on low branches in ambush!

Cheetahs stalk their prey and then chase it at super-fast speeds. Once they have their foe by the throat, they drop to the ground, dragging their prey along. Their wolf claws do extra damage, but their claws are not as sharp as those of a jaguar.

Jaguars and cheetahs use very similar tactics to attack other creatures, so they are evenly matched in fighting skills.

What is the main difference between a jaguar and a cheetah?

Despite their similarities, jaguars and cheetahs come from different parts of the world.

© Millie Bond – Copyright AZ Animals

Jaguars live in Central and South America, while cheetahs live in Africa. Jaguars are bigger and stronger than cheetahs, and they have longer fangs than cheetahs. However, cheetahs are much faster than jaguars.

Both animals have a distinctive pattern of spots on their fur, but jaguars can also appear as an all-black variant, often called a panther. These differences make it easier to identify each creature in the wild and help us determine which one is more likely to win a battle.

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Who would win in a battle between a jaguar and a cheetah?

Amazing Rainforest Animals: The Jaguar
A jaguar would win a fight with a cheetah.

©GoWildPhotography/Shutterstock.com

A jaguar would beat a cheetah in a fight. Cheetahs are faster than jaguars, but that's their only advantage in one-on-one combat. Either way, the two animals would have to clash to kill, and the jaguar has the size, weight, and strength to kill a cheetah.

Both creatures have such coordinated senses that they would be aware of the other's presence, so there would be no ambush, just a straight up fight to the death. The cheetah might even strike first, but in a subsequent rolling and roaring motion, the jaguar will use its strength, long teeth and claws to kill the cheetah.

However, if the cheetah comes in from behind and bites the jaguar on the neck, it can be a quick win. However, they often suffocate their prey, and jaguars have enough instinct to relentlessly grab another cat. Even if the cheetah somehow suffocated the jaguar, it would walk away ripped to shreds. Also, jaguars are very difficult to sneak up on, and a routine fight will end with the bigger, stronger cat winning.

What animal can beat a jaguar?

Crocodile
A crocodile's jaw is much stronger than that of a jaguar.

©Audrey Snider-Bell/Shutterstock.com

Jaguars may be able to match the lightning speed of cheetahs with incredible speed, but there are many animals that present a greater challenge to these felines. Crocodiles are such creatures. With a bite force of up to 3,700 psi and up to 60 4-inch teeth, these reptiles are capable of inflicting fatal damage to any creature that dares duel with them.

Against jaguars, crocodiles will be at a distinct disadvantage in terms of agility, speed and versatility, as the big cats are well suited to climbing trees, giving them the opportunity to attack from the air or seek out from a crocodile's attack Get a short respite. Ultimately, the alligator's thick, scaly skin was too thick for the jaguar to do a lot of damage without getting into the reptile's vicious jaws. Despite their best efforts, the jaguar was unable to defeat the crocodile in a fight.

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featured image

The strongest cat - Jaguar
Rosette markings are characteristic of the jaguar. These spots are called rosettes.

© iStock.com/Patryk_Kosmider


about the author


I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. I've written in various fields such as Managed Service Providers, Animals and Retail Distribution. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading and writing.

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