Comparing big cats - differences/changes with time

[Balam]

(02-18-2020, 10:59 PM)Ashutosh Wrote: True, @Pckts. But, Jaguars are the absolute apex predator in their landscape. On the other hand, tigers in Sunderbans have to deal with saltwater crocodiles and highly venomous sea snakes and both of those are better in water than the tiger, and no other animal is worrying the jaguar on such levels. Patrolling a territory is so much harder with such dangers lurking around. So, should the criteria for a more aquatic cat be based only on the prey? Personally, I think the fishing cat is the most aquatic cat around, but there is so little known about them.

Similarly, jaguars in los Llanos have to deal with Orinoco crocodiles (bigger than the salties in the Sudarbans) and giant green anacondas in the water, and they seem to be just as aquatic as Pantanal ones in the water. In the Amazon, they deal with black caiman too, but I'm not sure how much jaguars there rely on rivers and marsh areas to hunt in comparison with Llanos/Pantanal ones. Reply