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Part 1. Your teacher will show you images of each big cat. Observe the images and draw each big cat in the column labeled Big Cat Sketch. As you sketch, think about the unique features that distinguish these big cats from one another. Take notes on each cat’s unique features. You can use the back of this worksheet to record your notes.

Part 2. Identify the continent and region that make up the species range of each big cat. Write the name of the continent in the column labeled Continent. Your choices are: Africa, Asia, North America, and South America.

Part 3. Identify the habitat where each of these big cats lives and write it in the column labeled Habitat Type. Your choices are: savanna, mangrove swamp, tropical rain forest, forests of all types, or boreal forest.

Big Cats Habitats Answer Key

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Big Cat Habitat Example Big Cat Continent Habitat Name Description Habitat Sketch Type Location

African Lion

Bengal Tiger

a type of tropical grassland with scattered trees

coastal wetland dominated by mangrove trees, which have roots that can survive in salty water

Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya

Sundarbans, Ganges River Delta, India

Africa

Asia

Drawings will vary.

Drawings will vary.

savanna

mangrove swamp

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Big Cats Habitats Answer Key, continued

Big Cat Habitat Example Big Cat Continent Habitat Name Description Habitat Sketch Type Location

Jaguar

Leopard

Mountain Lion

area of tall evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall, often near the Equator

a type of tropical grassland with scattered trees

ecosystem filled with trees and underbrush

Amazon Basin, Brazil

Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya

Idaho and Utah, western United States

tropical rain forest

savanna

forests of many types

Drawings will vary.

Drawings will vary

Drawings will vary.

South America

Africa

North America

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Big Cats Habitats Answer Key, continued

Part 4. Answer the following questions.1. Do any of the big cats’ species ranges overlap? Which ones? _____________________________

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2. Which big cats live in similar habitats? Why do you think they do? _________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

3. The Bengal and Siberian tigers are subspecies of the same species, panthera tigris. How many different subspecies of tigers are listed in the chart? Describe two ways different subspecies of tigers are different. Describe how different subspecies of tigers are similar. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

4. What are two ways that mountain lions are different from African lions? ____________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

Big Cat Habitat Example Big Cat Continent Habitat Name Description Habitat Sketch Type Location

Ocelot

Siberian Tiger

area of tall evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall, often near the Equator

land covered by evergreen trees in cool, northern latitudes

Amazon Basin, Brazil

northeastern Russia

tropical rain forest

boreal forest

South America

Asia

Drawings will vary.

Drawings will vary

The ranges of the African lion and leopard overlap, as do the ranges of the ocelot, mountain lion, and jaguar.

Although mountain and African lions are both called “lions,” they are very different in terms of their physical characteristics, species ranges, and habitats.

Two species (subspecies) of tiger are listed. Siberian tigers and Bengal tigers have different ranges, habitats, and are found on different continents. Both tiger species have similar physical characteristics and ecological roles they play in their respective habitats.

Jaguars and ocelots share similar habitats, as do African lions and leopards. Big cats that have common ranges and habitats may also share common physical characteristics, behaviors, and adaptations that enable them to survive in their respective environments.