Leopard

Tagged: bird, cat, dog, fish, mammal

Leopard

The Leopard is found over most of sub-Saharan Africa, parts of the Middle East, Afghanistan, India and Sri Lanka and from northern China through southeast Asia, although its distribution is increasingly patchy. One of the most impressive of the big cats, the leopard’s strenght and beauty have long made it the stuff of legend. Aided by its magnificent, mottled camouflage and powerful, compact build, it can silently attack and kill prey more than twice its own weight. Its habitat and diet are so varied that it thrives in areas where larger competitors, such as lions and tigers, often fail. Uniquely, the leopard can even live without water for long periods, meeting all its needs from prey alone.

An opportunistic Hunter

Leopards will attack and eat anything from small beetles to large grazing mammals, such as antelope. The prey depends on the territory: in grasslands, large grazers are the staple, whereas in the forests, primates and rodents are more common. The usual method is patient, solitary stalking, followed by a pounce and a fatal bite to the neck. To protect the carcass from scavengers, the leopard often drags it to a treetop larder.

Part of Bodies

• Tailgives balance when walking, the tip is raised, showing the white underside. This may serve as a flag for cubs to follow
• Mottled coat pattern provides excellent camouflage
• Range of hearing is twice that of humans
• Excellent eyesight with night vision 6 times better than that of humans
• Whiskers act as sensors
• Padded paws allow the leopard to move silently

Statistics

• status – lower risk
• social unit – solitary
• length – 0.9-1.9m
• tail – 60-110 cm
• shoulder height – 46-79 cm
• weight – 37-90 kg
• sexual maturity – 2-3 yearsmating season – year round, but commonly January or February
• gestation period – 90-105 days
• number of young – 2-4
• breeding interval – 2 years
• diet – grazing mammals, pigs, rodents, primates, dogs, fish and birds
• lifespan – 10-20 years in the wild

Myth or fact

The leopard got its name because at one point it was commanly througt to be a cross between a lion and a panther or pard.

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