Comparing Cats: A Discussion of Similarities & Differences

[Shadow]

About latest discussion, it starts to go in circles and in a way, which makes people to lose interest to the topic, imo. It´s one thing to discuss about differences and similarities, another to get stuck in endless yes-no competition leading to more and more personal arguing. It happens in many places, but here it´s stopped at some point. Members can read. While some discussion and debate is always ok and even welcome, there is no need to continue if things start to go to the personal level. And what happens for instance in Carnivora or some other forum, keep it there, don´t bring those discussions here. Especially if you are having some personal insult contest going on.

I see this jaguar-leopard situation as quite simple. 

When looking at weights, biggest jaguar populations are clearly bigger than biggest leopard populations. I don´t think, that anyone can disagree. Speculating overall with sizes of certain Leopard populations and in what way they overlap with jaguars is another thing. Obviously biggest leopards are bigger than many jaguars, there is no question about it. Even though in average jaguars are bigger.

What comes to Persian leopards, naturally it can be discussed if inside subspecies for instance northern population produces bigger individuals than southern population. Just like when talking about jaguars it´s often discussed about population at Pantanal. It´s quite clear that nowadays Pantanal jaguars are bigger than other populations even though it´s not considered as own subspecies.

If talking about leopards only, it´s more or less like this:

1. Does northern population of Persian leopard produce bigger individuals than southern? Possibly, but so far no conclusive proof to be sure. 
2. Do Gabonese leopards produce some really big individuals and maybe biggest in Africa? Possibly, but so far no conclusive proof to say so as it would be self-evident.

It can be speculated with no problem if there are some good arguments and information. 

Lately it looks like, that there are disagreements, but also misunderstandings and maybe even on purpose partially. I hope, that I´m wrong in that last. Anyway if more mocking (obvious or "hidden"), then moderation will happen in one way or another. Hopefully this is fair enough warning now. Reply