Leopard Information
www.tigerace.com/info_leopard.html
Species: Panthera pardus
Sub-species: adersi, ciscaucsuca, delacouri, fusca, japonensis,
jarvisi, kotiya, melanotica, melas, millardi, nanopardus, nimr, orientalis,
panther, panthera, pardus, pernigra, saxicolor, sindica, suahelica, tulliana
© Rodney Griffiths, used with permission.
Conservation status: Although abundant in most of its range, the leopard is on CITES I, which monitors trade in endangered species. It suffers from habitat destruction, revenge-killing for stock predation and poaching for its glorious coat. Most leopard sub-species are nowhere near as endangered as most of their feline relatives. The leopard's populations are considered to be abundant in eastern and southern Africa and parts of Asia. In North and West Africa, the Middle East and some Asian countries, however, it is critically endangered.
It is estimated that there are more than 300,000 leopards in the world. Considering that ten years ago some sources reported as many as 700,000 leopards in Africa alone (eg. Pocket Cats), the leopard is declining rapidly and should be included in conservation plans to prevent its demise.
Distribution: Leopards are found throughout Africa and Asia.
Size: Built for strength, climbing and only short-bursts of speed, the leopard weighs in at approximately 60kg. Excluding its tail, adult leopards are usually between 90 and 190 cm long. The tail can be 58 to 110 cm, meaning that its highest possible total length is 300 cm.
Appearance: Leopards can be distinguished from cheetahs by their stocky build and a more ruddy appearance. Their spots are also generally not solid, especially across their torso where the spots become bigger and usually consist of a brown smudge surrounded by three or more black spots. A cheetah's spot are usually much more solid and circular. The melanese leopard (or black panther) is simply a leopard with a genetic mutation that produces more melanin in its skin, giving it a darker or black appearance. Spots can often still be seen in the coat of a black leopard. See black panther.
History: In Ancient Egyptian mythology, leopards were often associated with carrying pharoahs through the underworld. Figures of this kind were found when the tomb of Tutankhamun was opened.
In 1986, Paul Casey introduced a domestic cat breed to the world, which was inspired by a trip to Africa where he observed the beauty of leopards. The California Spangled was bred from domesticated cats, but is said to be intelligent and active, just like wild leopards.
Common names/Species list:
Panthera pardus adersi - Zanzibar leopard
Panthera pardus ciscaucsuca - leopard (Caucasian Mts.)
Panthera pardus delacouri - leopard (Indochina)
Panthera pardus fusca - leopard (India)
Panthera pardus japonensis - leopard (North China)
Panthera pardis jarvisi - leopard (Sinai Peninsula, possibly extinct)
Panthera pardus kotiya - Sri Lanka Leopard
Panthera pardus melanotica - leopard (Southern Africa)
Panthera pardus melas - Javan Leopard
Panthera pardus millardi - leopard (Kashmir)
Panthera pardus nanopardus - leopard (Somalia and Ethiopia)
Panthera pardis nimr - leopard (Arabia, Jordan, Israel)
Panthera pardis orientalis - Amur leopard (southern Siberia, Manchuria, Korea)
Panthera pardis panther - leopard (north-western Africa)
Panthera pardus panthera - Barbary leopard (Algeria and Egypt)
Panthera pardus pardus - leopard (Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo & Kenya)
Panthera pardus pernigra - leopard (Nepal, Kashmir)
Panthera pardus saxicolor - Persian Leopard
Panthera pardus sindica - leopard (South West Africa)
Panthera pardus suahelica - leopard (Eastern Africa)
Panthera pardis tulliana - Anatolian leopard (Asia minor-Turkey, Syria, Lebanon)
Sources: The Noble Cat by Howard Loxton, CITES, Time magazine (August 23, 2004), Pocket Cats by David Alderton (Dorling Kindersley, 1995).
If you are not sure of some of the terminology used on this site,
click here for an excellent glossary at Lion Crusher.com.
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