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Have you ever wondered why some cats purr and other cats roar? Did you know that house cats aren’t the only felines that go “meow”?? Why does this happen?! The answer might be more simple than you realize! Let’s get into it! #ScienceTwitter 1/ 🐾
Cats! Everyone’s favorite machines of predation and cuteness are categorized in two main genera, Felis and Pantheras. Some people acknowledge these categories as the “purring cats” and the “roaring cats”. What separates them though?? #ScienceTwitter 2/ 🐾
One of the major distinctions is in the hyoid bone! This is an ossified structure which rests above the larynx allowing for a higher variation of tongue, pharyngeal, and laryngeal movements! Big cats like lions and tigers have tough cartilage that runs up the sides! #SciComm 3/
Cats in the genera of Felis like bobcats, ocelots, lynxes, and house cats DO NOT HAVE THIS! So when their larynx resonates it generates a “purr” noise! Where as big cats produce a full throated roar, one lion was documented to produce a roar up to 114 decibels! #ScienceTwitter 4/
So there you have it! The secret is in the bones! Wild cats are spectacular animals with a splendor of variations across various ecosystems on our planet, all with unique traits that allow them to effectively thrive in the wild! Got a burning question? Just “yowl” at me! 🐅🐆🐈
