Big Cat Sounds

AKA why we love the Guardian’s GrrlScientist:

“Big cat” is not a precise biological term, it is just a verbal shorthand for distinguishing the larger members of the taxonomic family Felidae from smaller ones. Some people formally define “big cats” as the four Panthera species: the tiger, lion, jaguar, and leopard. But other people also include cheetahs, snow leopards, clouded leopards, and cougars under the “big cat” umbrella.

Big cat noises are really interesting. For example, only Panthera can roar. For this reason, they are often collectively known as “the roaring cats”. Roaring requires special morphology of the larynx and hyoid apparatus in the animal’s throat. Interestingly, despite having hyoid morphology similar to roaring cats, snow leopards cannot roar.

The Science Behind the Big Cat Sounds

Among the most striking characteristics of cats, the sounds they produce are very interesting: from deep growth to impressive thunderstorms, it can be very varied. A big cat roar is possible for special animals from the throat. It increases and increases the sound over long distances, causing lions to dominate their areas and tigers through dense forests. Beyond the roar, the variety of the wild cat sounds – which increases their behavior, mood, and social interaction, can also vary their methods of communication.

Researchers have long studied these sounds and how they play a role in survival. For example, Roars can prevent dominance and rivals, while the soft tone strengthens social bonds between mothers and cubs. By analyzing the full spectrum of wild cat sounds, scientists learn that they attain insights into adaptation that allow these animals to flourish in such separate habitats, from open savannas to high mountain ranges.

Read more at The Guardian. Or simply watch the video from Big Cat Rescue: