Leopard

Leopard (Panthera pardus) is a species in the family Felidae, and one of the five "big cats" in the genus Panthera. It is a member of the Carnivora order and is found in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in small parts of Western and Central Asia, on the Indian subcontinent to Southeast and East Asia.

Description

The leopard is distinguished by its well-camouflaged fur, opportunistic hunting behavior, broad diet, and strength (which it uses to move heavy carcasses into trees), as well as its ability to adapt to various habitats ranging from rainforest to steppe, including arid and montane areas, and its ability to run at speeds of up to 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph).

Habitat and Distribution

Leopards are found in a wide range of habitats within Africa and Asia, from mountainous landscapes to grasslands and deserts, but they are most at risk in areas of semi-desert, where they are under threat from habitat loss due to conversion of natural habitats into managed ones.

Behavior

Leopards are solitary creatures that only spend time with others when they are mating or raising young. They are also nocturnal and spend their nights hunting instead of sleeping. Leopards spend a lot of their time in trees. Their spotted coat camouflages them, making them blend in with the leaves of the tree.

Conservation

The leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because leopard populations are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and are declining in large parts of the global range. In Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuwait, Syria, Libya, Tunisia and most likely in Morocco, leopard populations have already been extirpated.

See also

• African Leopard
• Indian Leopard
• Amur Leopard
• Snow Leopard