The Cats Family

The members of the cat family are very similar in shape though they come in different sizes. They are all agile hunters that stalk[1] and pounce[2] on their prey. They have excellent stereoscopic vision, they can see in color and in the dark. They have a special layer at the back of the eye, called the tapetum, which reflects light back to the retina, so they can see in low light. All cats have sensitive whiskers for nighttime hunting.
Small Cats There are 28 species of "small cats". Apart from their size they are very similar to big cats. Small cats can purr, but they cannot roar. Big cats can roar, but cannot purr. The domestic cat is descended from the wild cat, which was found in Europe and North Africa. The bobcat, and the lynx, are peculiar in having ear tufts and short tails. Many small cats, like the ocelot, have spotted coats from camouflage in the forest.
Big Cats Tigers, cheetahs, leopards, and juguars are solitary hunters. They usually stalk medium-sized grazers no bigger than themselves. Lions take larger prey, and hunt in prides[3]. Prides consist of a fullgrown male and several breeding famales and their cubs. Big cats hunt only when they are hungry, gorging on[4] the kill and then dozing for several days.
Record Breakers The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. It can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour. It can move so fast because it stores energy in its spring-like backbone. When it runs its backbone alternately stretches and coils, swinging its long legs forward and backward.
Agility Cats almost always land on their feet. They do this by a reflex action controlled by the organ of balance in the inner ear. It tells the brain which way is up. The brain matches this information with the messages from the eyes. The neck muscles turn the head to the upright position and the body follows all before the cat hits the ground. Cats are agile climbers, clinging on with their claws. They have powerful legs and can spring straight up into the air, landing on their prey on all fours.

猫科动物探趣

　　猫科动物形状上十分相似，但大小不一。它们可都是敏捷的捕猎好手：悄悄接近猎物，然后猛扑过去。它们具有出色的立体视力，善辨颜色，在黑暗中也能看清楚。在眼睛后部有一个特殊的反光层，称为反光毯，它把光反射回视网膜。因此，猫科动物在弱光下也能看见。它们都有夜猎所需的敏感触须。

　　“小猫” “小猫”有28个种属。除体型小外，跟“大猫”十分相似。“小猫”会咕噜咕噜叫，但不会吼；“大猫”会吼，但不会咕噜咕噜叫。家猫的祖先是在欧洲和北非发现的野猫。美洲山猫和猞猁（山猫）长得特别，尾短，耳有鬣毛。许多“小猫”像豹猫那样，都有在森林中起伪装作用的斑点。

　　“大猫” 老虎、猎豹、豹和美洲虎喜欢单独捕猎。它们通常偷袭不比自己大的中等体型的食草动物。狮子的捕食对象体积比自身大，攻击时采取群体方式，由一头成年雄狮率领，并有几只繁殖期的雌狮和幼狮参加。“大猫”只在饥饿时捕食，将捕杀的对象饱餐后就昏昏沉沉地睡上几天。

　　创记录者 猎豹是世界上奔跑速度最快的陆地动物，时速高达每小时60英里。它之所以能跑这么快，是因为它把能量储存在弹簧般的脊骨中。奔跑时，脊骨交替伸展和蜷缩，不断前向后甩动长腿。

　　敏捷 猫几乎总是用腿着地。这是内耳中平衡器官控制的反应。它告诉猫的大脑弹跳方向。根据来自眼睛的信息，大脑做出相应的反应。颈部肌肉把头转动到正直位置，身体也随之转动。所有这一切均在猫着地前完成。猫靠爪子可以灵敏地爬攀，还有强劲的腿，能一跃而起，四腿落在被捕捉的对象上。