Cheetahs belong to the family Acinonyx, while leopards belong to the family Panthera. Cheetahs are found in Africa and Iran, whereas leopards have a wider distribution in Africa, Central Asia, India, and China. Visually, cheetahs have solid round spots, while leopards have rosettes. Leopards are bulkier and lack the black “tear stains” that run from the corner of the eye down the muzzle, which cheetahs have.