What is a big cat?

0:46 Welcome to Science Is Not Boring by Kidopoly.com. I'm Mira! And I'm Finn! A big hello to Audrey, who is seven years old in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Audrey listens every night before bed with her dad, and she asks for an episode all about big cats. This one is for you, Audrey. And a huge hello to Evelyn from Maryland, who loves big cats too, especially Black Panthers.

1:14 If you haven't already, tap follow wherever you're listening so you never miss an episode. So, Mira, are we talking about my cute little pet kitty today? Not quite, Finn. Imagine an animal that can make a sound so incredibly loud it hits 114 decibels. Wait, 114 decibels? That's louder than a rock concert!

1:39 Exactly! And that sound can be heard from five whole miles away. Five miles? If I heard that, I'd be hiding under my bed. Today, we're tracking down the most magnificent, powerful, and stealthy apex predators on Earth. We're finding out what really makes a big cat a big cat. Okay, so if a big cat isn't just a giant version of a house cat, what is it?

2:06 In science, true big cats belong to a very specific group, or genus, called Panthera. Panthera? Like a panther? Yes, the Panthera genus includes lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards. Wait, what about Evelyn's favourite, the Black Panther? Is that a different species? That is such a great question. Believe it or not, a Black Panther isn't actually a separate species at all.

2:35 It isn't, but they look completely different. They are actually just leopards or jaguars that have a special genetic trait called melanism. Melanism? What does that mean? It means their bodies produce extra dark pigment. Their fur is so incredibly dark brown or black that it hides their normal pattern.

2:58 Wait, so if you looked really closely, they still have spots. Exactly! If the bright jungle sunlight hits a Black Panther's fur just right, you can see the leopard or jaguar spots hidden like a secret code in their beautiful dark coat. That is basically animal magic. Evelyn is going to love that fact.

3:18 But being in the Panthera genus isn't just about how they look. It's about a secret weapon hidden deep inside their throats. A secret weapon in their throats? What? Do they breathe fire? No, but they do something almost as cool. They roar! Well, yeah, lions roar. But why can they do it when my house cat just goes meow?

3:43 It all comes down to a tiny special part of their throat called the hyoid bone. The hyoid bone. Right. In most cats, this bone is completely hard and solid. But in true big cats, part of the hyoid bone is actually made of flexible stretchy cartilage. Like the squishy stuff in my nose and ears. Yep, that stretchy cartilage lets their voice box drop really low.

4:09 When they push air through it, it creates that terrifying 114 decibel roar. I am so glad my house cat doesn't have stretchy throat cartilage. I wouldn't get any sleep. But there's a trade-off, Finn. Because their throats are built for roaring, true big cats cannot purr like a house cat. No way! A lion can't purr when it's happy.

4:32 Nope. They can make a friendly chuffing sound, like a puff of air, but no continuous purring. Wait, hold on. What about cheetahs? They are huge cats. Do they roar? Actually, cheetahs are not true big cats. They belong to a totally different genus. Ah, so because they aren't Panthera, does that mean they can purr?

4:52 They sure can, but cheetahs have another superpower. They are the fastest land mammals on the planet. How fast are we talking? Like riding a bicycle fast? Way faster. A cheetah can go from zero to sixty miles per hour in just three seconds. 60 miles per hour? That's highway speed! In three seconds! Okay, so cheetahs are the fastest.

5:16 But who is the biggest of the true big cats? Is it the lion? Good guess. But no! The largest big cat on earth is the tiger! Really? How big do they get? An adult male tiger can weigh up to 660 pounds. 660 pounds! That's like the weight of ten normal sized kids mashed together. And they can be over ten feet long, from their nose to the tip of their heavy tail.

5:44 That is one giant kitty. And they have those super cool orange and black stripes. Here's a mind-blowing fact about those stripes. They aren't just on the tiger's fur. Wait, what do you mean? Where else would they be? The stripes are actually on their skin. If you shaved a tiger, which I definitely do not recommend doing.

6:04 Yeah, definitely do not shave a 660-pound tiger. You would still see the exact same striped pattern on its bare skin. And every single tiger's stripe pattern is completely unique, just like a human fingerprint. Whoa, so scientists can tell tigers apart just by looking at their stripes. Exactly! And all these big cats share one incredible superpower, their night vision.

6:28 Oh, because they hunt in the dark, right? Yes. A big cat's night vision is six times sharper than a human's night vision. Six times? How do they do that? Do they have built-in night vision goggles? Kind of. They have a special mirror-like layer in the back of their eyes, called the Topetum Lucidum. It bounces tiny bits of moonlight and starlight back through their eyes, giving them a glowing, super bright view of the dark jungle.

6:56 That is so cool! Stretchy throats, fingerprint skin, and glowing eyes. Big cats are like comic book superheroes. They really are, and as apex predators, which means they are at the very top of the food chain, they are incredibly important for the planet. Why is that? Because they keep the balance? Exactly.

7:18 By hunting, they keep the populations of other animals from getting too big. If herbivores ate all the plants, the whole ecosystem would collapse. Big cats keep nature healthy. That makes sense. They are the guardians of the jungle. Do they all live in jungles though? Not all of them. Jaguars love the dense rainforests of South America, and they have the strongest bite of any big cat.

7:43 How strong? Strong enough to bite right through a thick, hard turtle shell. Yikes! Remind me not to play hide and seek with a jaguar. But then you have snow leopards, who live high up in the freezing cold mountains of Central Asia. They wrap their thick fluffy tails around their faces like a scarf to stay warm.

8:05 Okay, that is actually adorable. Even if they are giant predators. And tigers, unlike house cats, tigers absolutely love the water. They are excellent swimmers and will plunge right into a river to cool off on a hot day. I guess big cats are full of surprises. Alright, Thin, time for the quiz. Are you ready?

8:26 Okay, I'm ready. First question. What is the scientific genus name for true big cats? Next one, how loud can a lion's roar be in decibels? Question three. Black panthers are actually which two types of big cats with extra dark pigment? Here's number four. Which big cat is the largest, weighing up to 660 pounds?

9:05 Last question. How many times sharper is a big cat's night vision compared to humans? Great job! Let's see how you did. The first answer is Panthera. For question two, a lion's roar can reach 114 decibels. Number three, black panthers are actually leopards or jaguars. For question four, the tiger is the biggest at 660 pounds.

9:37 And the final answer, their night vision is six times sharper than ours. Wow, I am never going to look at a cat the same way again. I just wish my cat could roar. I think your neighbours are glad it can't. That's true. Hey, if you love learning about amazing animals with us, please leave us a five-star review.

9:58 Yes, leave us a roaring five-star review. Just scroll down and tap the stars. And don't forget to follow this show wherever you are listening, so new episodes just magically appear. Oh, and we have sister shows too. History and philosophy is not boring, and maths is not boring. Go give those a listen and a follow as well.

10:18 Want your name on the show? Send us an email at hello at kidopoly.com. See you next time on Science is Not Boring. Bye everyone!