The spotted one is a jaguar/leopard hybrid. My understanding is that Haldane’s Rule applies to this hybrid, and the males are sterile.
I had not seen this actual hybrid before. However, I had seen what happens when a female jagulep is bred to male lion.
I have not looked at the evolution of these Panthera species, but I thought that lions and leopards were more closely related to each other than to jaguars.
I could be wrong, of course, because this blog’s name isn’t “Big Cat Man.” I am just not up to date on the genetics of these animals.
Also see the Congolese spotted lion.
I read somewhere that lions and Jaguars are very closely related. I’m not sure how true it is but I also recall that Jaguars are more closely related to lions than to any other big cats while lions and leopards more distantly related.
Out of curiosity I’ve been looking for a picture of a Jagulep for a long time, I kind of thought non existed. Pretty much look as you think they would eh?
All I know is that leopards, lions, and jaguars are more closely related to each other than they are to the tiger.
Supposed doglas, leopard/tiger hybrids, have never been proven to exist.
In my research on this hybrid, I found that it was much more common for “performing jaguars” to be hybrids with leopards than pure jaguars, because the hybrids are easier to handles.
Jaguars are very reactive animals, even in captivity.
And they have much more powerful jaws than other big cats.
hmmm… big “designer kitties”!
Here’s a website you can add to your sidebar for the big cat people:
http://www.messybeast.com
Cool, really cool. Lots of photos. Lots of hybrids. And look at tose horses manes! Gotta love it, or hate it, but it is something different.
Feast your eyes: these jaguar/lion hybrids are some of the most beautiful cats I have ever seen.
http://bearcreeksanctuary.com/jaglions_photos_1.htm