Leopard
The
leopard, Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the
smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other
three being the tiger, lion and jaguar. Once distributed across
eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa,
the leopard's range of distribution has decreased radically because
of hunting and loss of habitat. It is now chiefly found in
sub-Saharan Africa; there are also fragmented populations in
Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Malaysia, and China. Because
of its declining range and population, it is listed as a "Near
Threatened" species by the IUCN.
Compared to other members of the Felidae family, the leopard has
relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. It is
similar in appearance to the jaguar, but is smaller and more
slightly built. Its fur is marked with rosettes similar to those of
the jaguar, but the leopard's rosettes are smaller and more densely
packed, and do not usually have central spots as the jaguars do.
Both leopards and jaguars that are melanistic (completely black or
very dark) are known as black panthers.
The species' success in the wild is in part due to its opportunistic
hunting behavior, its adaptability to habitats, its ability to run
at speeds approaching 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph), its unequaled
ability to climb trees even when carrying a heavy carcass, and its
notorious ability for stealth. The leopard consumes virtually any
animal it can hunt down and catch. Its habitat ranges from
rainforest to desert terrains.
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