LifeCycle
Panthera Pardus is the scientific name of the leopard. "Panthera" means roughly "all the beasts" in Greek, and it is possibly a reference to a legend about the panther using its breath to lure all other animals and devour them. Pardus is the name given by ancient people to the leopard, and also means tawny or brown
The name leopard is derived from the Greek and Latin term leo and pard which mean lion and panther. The leopard is one of the big four cats from the species Pathera.
Initially leopard was thought to be a hybrid amid a lion and a panther. The leopard is said to be the fourth largest "big cat" after jaguar, lion and tiger.
Leopards averaging 28 inches (71 centimeters) at shoulder height — but they're also the most successful. They're stealthy hunters and resourceful scavengers, and they can adapt to almost any environment.
The color and length of a leopard's fur can vary depending on where it lives. Leopards in the savanna, for example, will have yellow or orange fur, while the fur of desert leopards is lighter. Leopards from cold climates have longer, grayer fur, and rainforest leopards have golden coats.Leopards spot are called rosettes, can be either round or square to help them blend in even better with their surroundings.
Leopards eat anything from carcasses, fish and reptiles to mammals such as baboons, antelopes, warthogs, hares and rodents. Of all the big cat species, leopards are the best climbers.They're also strong swimmers, and they'll sometimes catch fish and crabs.
Leopards are solitary, elusive and skillful predators. They hunt, kill and feed quickly and stealthily, usually during the night. Retractable claws help them grab and swat prey, which they kill with a bite to the throat. When leopards do make a kill, they'll drag the carcass up a tree to keep it away from scavenging lions and hyenas.
Each individual leopard has its own hunting range, which it marks with urine and claw marks. A male's range usually overlaps with several females' ranges, which are much smaller. Leopards announce their presence to other leopards with a rasping cough.
The name leopard is derived from the Greek and Latin term leo and pard which mean lion and panther. The leopard is one of the big four cats from the species Pathera.
Initially leopard was thought to be a hybrid amid a lion and a panther. The leopard is said to be the fourth largest "big cat" after jaguar, lion and tiger.
Leopards averaging 28 inches (71 centimeters) at shoulder height — but they're also the most successful. They're stealthy hunters and resourceful scavengers, and they can adapt to almost any environment.
The color and length of a leopard's fur can vary depending on where it lives. Leopards in the savanna, for example, will have yellow or orange fur, while the fur of desert leopards is lighter. Leopards from cold climates have longer, grayer fur, and rainforest leopards have golden coats.Leopards spot are called rosettes, can be either round or square to help them blend in even better with their surroundings.
Leopards eat anything from carcasses, fish and reptiles to mammals such as baboons, antelopes, warthogs, hares and rodents. Of all the big cat species, leopards are the best climbers.They're also strong swimmers, and they'll sometimes catch fish and crabs.
Leopards are solitary, elusive and skillful predators. They hunt, kill and feed quickly and stealthily, usually during the night. Retractable claws help them grab and swat prey, which they kill with a bite to the throat. When leopards do make a kill, they'll drag the carcass up a tree to keep it away from scavenging lions and hyenas.
Each individual leopard has its own hunting range, which it marks with urine and claw marks. A male's range usually overlaps with several females' ranges, which are much smaller. Leopards announce their presence to other leopards with a rasping cough.
Countries:
Native:
Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola (Angola); Armenia (Armenia); Azerbaijan; Bangladesh; Benin; Bhutan; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Djibouti; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; India; Indonesia (Jawa); Iran, Islamic Republic of; Israel; Jordan; Kenya; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Liberia; Malawi; Malaysia; Mali; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Pakistan; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Swaziland; Tajikistan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Togo; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; United Arab Emirates; Uzbekistan; Viet Nam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Regionally extinct:
Hong Kong; Kuwait; Libya; Singapore; Syrian Arab Republic; Tunisia
Native:
Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola (Angola); Armenia (Armenia); Azerbaijan; Bangladesh; Benin; Bhutan; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Congo; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Djibouti; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; India; Indonesia (Jawa); Iran, Islamic Republic of; Israel; Jordan; Kenya; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Liberia; Malawi; Malaysia; Mali; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Pakistan; Russian Federation; Rwanda; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Swaziland; Tajikistan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Togo; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; United Arab Emirates; Uzbekistan; Viet Nam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Regionally extinct:
Hong Kong; Kuwait; Libya; Singapore; Syrian Arab Republic; Tunisia
Population: The leopard is an adaptable, widespread species that nonetheless has many threatened subpopulations. While still numerous and even thriving in some marginal habitats from which other big cats have disappeared in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, in North Africa leopards are on the verge of extinction.
There are no reliable continent-wide estimates of population size in Africa, and the most commonly cited estimate of over 700,000 leopards in Africa (Martin and de Meulenaar 1988) is flawed. In India, based on pugmark censuses (a methodology which has been criticized as inaccurate), 9,844 leopards were estimated in 2001. Many populations are believed to be increasing (Singh 2005), and there are high levels of human-leopard conflict.
The population: Decreasing
There are no reliable continent-wide estimates of population size in Africa, and the most commonly cited estimate of over 700,000 leopards in Africa (Martin and de Meulenaar 1988) is flawed. In India, based on pugmark censuses (a methodology which has been criticized as inaccurate), 9,844 leopards were estimated in 2001. Many populations are believed to be increasing (Singh 2005), and there are high levels of human-leopard conflict.
The population: Decreasing
Habitats:
The leopard has the widest habitat tolerance of any Old World filed, ranging from rain forest to desert. In Africa, they are most successful in woodland, grassland savanna and forest but also occur widely in mountain habitats, coastal scrub, swampy areas, shrub-land, semi-desert and desert. They range from sea level to as much as 4,600 m on Mt Kenya . In Southwest and Central Asia, leopards formerly occupied a range of habitats, but now are confined chiefly to the more remote montane and rugged foothill areas. Through India and Southeast Asia, Leopard are found in all forest types, from tropical rain forest to the temperate deciduous and alpine coniferous (up to 5,200 m in the Himalaya), and also occur in dry scrub and grasslands.
Leopards have extremely catholic diets including more than 90 species in sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from arthropods to large antelope up to the size of adult male ElandTragelaphus oryx . Densities vary with habitat, prey availability, and degree of threat, from fewer than one per 100 km² to over 30 per 100 km², with highest densities obtained in protected East and southern African mesic woodland savannas.
A study in Thailand found a home range of 8.8 km² for a radio-collared female, and 17.3-18 km² for two adult males. Important prey species were hog badger Arctonyx collaris (45.9%), muntjac Muntiacus muntjak (20.9%) and wild pig Sus scrofa (6.3%).
Habitat Regions: Tropical, Terrestrail.
Terrestrial Biomes: Desert or dune, Savanna or grassland, forest, rainforest, scrub forest, mountains.
The leopard has the widest habitat tolerance of any Old World filed, ranging from rain forest to desert. In Africa, they are most successful in woodland, grassland savanna and forest but also occur widely in mountain habitats, coastal scrub, swampy areas, shrub-land, semi-desert and desert. They range from sea level to as much as 4,600 m on Mt Kenya . In Southwest and Central Asia, leopards formerly occupied a range of habitats, but now are confined chiefly to the more remote montane and rugged foothill areas. Through India and Southeast Asia, Leopard are found in all forest types, from tropical rain forest to the temperate deciduous and alpine coniferous (up to 5,200 m in the Himalaya), and also occur in dry scrub and grasslands.
Leopards have extremely catholic diets including more than 90 species in sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from arthropods to large antelope up to the size of adult male ElandTragelaphus oryx . Densities vary with habitat, prey availability, and degree of threat, from fewer than one per 100 km² to over 30 per 100 km², with highest densities obtained in protected East and southern African mesic woodland savannas.
A study in Thailand found a home range of 8.8 km² for a radio-collared female, and 17.3-18 km² for two adult males. Important prey species were hog badger Arctonyx collaris (45.9%), muntjac Muntiacus muntjak (20.9%) and wild pig Sus scrofa (6.3%).
Habitat Regions: Tropical, Terrestrail.
Terrestrial Biomes: Desert or dune, Savanna or grassland, forest, rainforest, scrub forest, mountains.
Physical Description
Body size and color patterns of leopards varies geographically and probably reflects adaptations to particular habitats. Leopards have short legs relative to their long body. They have a broad head, and their massive skull allows for powerful jaw muscles. The leopard's scapula has specialized attachment sites for climbing muscles. They have small round ears, long whiskers extending from dark spots on the upper lip, and long whiskers in their eyebrows that protect their eyes while moving through dense vegetation. Their coat ranges from tawny or light yellow in warm, dry habitats to reddish-orange in dense forests. Subspecies are distinguished according to unique pelage characteristics. Their body is covered with black rosettes, which are circular in East Africa and square in South Africa. They have solid black spots on their chest, feet, and face and rings on their tail. Cubs have a smoky gray coat and their rosettes are not yet distinct. Each individual has a unique coat, which can be used for identification. Black panthers, which are most populous in humid forests, are leopards with recessive melanistic genes. Savannah and woodland leopards tend to be relatively large while mountain and desert leopards tend to be relatively small. Leopards are sexually dimorphic as males tend to be larger than females. Females range in body mass from 17 to 58 kg and in length from 1.7 to 1.9 m. Males range in mass from 31 to 65 kg and in length from 1.6 to 2.3 m.
Body size and color patterns of leopards varies geographically and probably reflects adaptations to particular habitats. Leopards have short legs relative to their long body. They have a broad head, and their massive skull allows for powerful jaw muscles. The leopard's scapula has specialized attachment sites for climbing muscles. They have small round ears, long whiskers extending from dark spots on the upper lip, and long whiskers in their eyebrows that protect their eyes while moving through dense vegetation. Their coat ranges from tawny or light yellow in warm, dry habitats to reddish-orange in dense forests. Subspecies are distinguished according to unique pelage characteristics. Their body is covered with black rosettes, which are circular in East Africa and square in South Africa. They have solid black spots on their chest, feet, and face and rings on their tail. Cubs have a smoky gray coat and their rosettes are not yet distinct. Each individual has a unique coat, which can be used for identification. Black panthers, which are most populous in humid forests, are leopards with recessive melanistic genes. Savannah and woodland leopards tend to be relatively large while mountain and desert leopards tend to be relatively small. Leopards are sexually dimorphic as males tend to be larger than females. Females range in body mass from 17 to 58 kg and in length from 1.7 to 1.9 m. Males range in mass from 31 to 65 kg and in length from 1.6 to 2.3 m.
Anatomy
Leopards anatomy demonstrates an almost perfect specialization allowing it to become the world’s fastest land animal.Leopards long legs and slender body allows it, to cover a lot of ground fast. Their light body is built for speed and its flat tail is built to allow it to change its direction at any time.
The Leopard spine allows them to bend and manoeuvre with ease, whenever they are working on catching their prey. Their hearts are enlarged and their nasal passages are built for easier breathing, when they are on the run. Leopard have a small stomach that requires them to regularly eat, in order to maintain a healthy body. The leopard is classified as an endangered species. Only 12,000 to 15,000 are believed to remain in about 25 countries.Being a mammal, leopard's have pretty much the same organ systems as the human with slight differences. A leopard's chest is deep and its waist is narrow. The coarse, short fur of the leopard is tan with round black spots, having some camouflage while hunting. There are no spots on its white underside. The tail has spots, which form 4-6 dark rings at the end, and usually ends in a bushy white tuft. The leopard has a small head with high-set eyes, and black "tear marks" run from the corner of its eyes down the sides of the nose to its mouth to keep sunlight out of its eyes and to aid in hunting and seeing long distances.No other mammal is as fast as a leopard, which has a top speed of 90 - 112 kph (60 - 70 mph). However, even though it can reach high speeds, its body cannot stand long distance running- the leopard is a sprinter.
Leopards anatomy demonstrates an almost perfect specialization allowing it to become the world’s fastest land animal.Leopards long legs and slender body allows it, to cover a lot of ground fast. Their light body is built for speed and its flat tail is built to allow it to change its direction at any time.
The Leopard spine allows them to bend and manoeuvre with ease, whenever they are working on catching their prey. Their hearts are enlarged and their nasal passages are built for easier breathing, when they are on the run. Leopard have a small stomach that requires them to regularly eat, in order to maintain a healthy body. The leopard is classified as an endangered species. Only 12,000 to 15,000 are believed to remain in about 25 countries.Being a mammal, leopard's have pretty much the same organ systems as the human with slight differences. A leopard's chest is deep and its waist is narrow. The coarse, short fur of the leopard is tan with round black spots, having some camouflage while hunting. There are no spots on its white underside. The tail has spots, which form 4-6 dark rings at the end, and usually ends in a bushy white tuft. The leopard has a small head with high-set eyes, and black "tear marks" run from the corner of its eyes down the sides of the nose to its mouth to keep sunlight out of its eyes and to aid in hunting and seeing long distances.No other mammal is as fast as a leopard, which has a top speed of 90 - 112 kph (60 - 70 mph). However, even though it can reach high speeds, its body cannot stand long distance running- the leopard is a sprinter.
Skeletal System
Their small head, deep chest and narrow greyhound like body make it an excellent sprint runner. The head is small and therefore very light, the deep chest makes it able to expand its lungs more and therefore take in more oxygen during a chase. The slim streamlined body enables it to run very fast very quick. They also have a long tail than other cats, it works as a balance check when the Leopard is at top speed. The Leopards spine is also very flexible, allowing it to have a longer stride when running as it can space its legs much further apart than most other cats. The Leopard also has very small teeth compared with other cats, allowing for more oxygen to enter the mouth quickly. There is no end to the skeletal adaptations of the cheetah.
Muscular System:
A leopards muscles are a lot quicker to react to brain signals than say a humans, this enables them to reach their top flight speed in under 30 seconds. The muscles around the leopards arteries are also very muscular so it can pump blood around the body faster. This is important as when a leopard is running it runs a real risk of starving its brain of oxygen so it is important that the oxygen carrying blood gets to the brain asap. It has a very muscular lean body, it does not have a lot of muscle but the muscle thats there is all fine tuned to do exactly as its meant to.
Digestive System
Digestive System of a Leopard is much the same as the digestive system of a cat. Food goes into the mouth where it is broken down by the teeth. The food then proceeds through the esophagus which leads the food into the stomach. In the stomach the food is digested down more through the stomach acids that break down the food. Later it moves into the intestine where nutrients from the food is absorbed. After the food travels through the intestine it moves into the colon where waste is removed. The food, soon coming to the end of its journey then moves in the rectum and leaves through the anus.
Digestive System of a Leopard is much the same as the digestive system of a cat. Food goes into the mouth where it is broken down by the teeth. The food then proceeds through the esophagus which leads the food into the stomach. In the stomach the food is digested down more through the stomach acids that break down the food. Later it moves into the intestine where nutrients from the food is absorbed. After the food travels through the intestine it moves into the colon where waste is removed. The food, soon coming to the end of its journey then moves in the rectum and leaves through the anus.
Lungs and Heart
The leopards enlarged heart, wide nostrils, increase lung capacity, and large, strong arteries help the leopard achieve remarkable sprinting hunt speeds up to 70 miles an hour,. During a high-speed chase, respiratory rate climbs from 60 to 150 breaths per minute, but this means that it can run only 400 to 600 yards, before becoming exhausted. Its maximum speed can only be maintained for short burst for a few seconds. It can take the cheetah up to half an hour to recuperate, which makes it very vulnerable following a hunt
The leopards enlarged heart, wide nostrils, increase lung capacity, and large, strong arteries help the leopard achieve remarkable sprinting hunt speeds up to 70 miles an hour,. During a high-speed chase, respiratory rate climbs from 60 to 150 breaths per minute, but this means that it can run only 400 to 600 yards, before becoming exhausted. Its maximum speed can only be maintained for short burst for a few seconds. It can take the cheetah up to half an hour to recuperate, which makes it very vulnerable following a hunt
Circulatory System.
The overall production of circulatory system is the same as a human's, but the muscles around the leopards arteries are very muscular so it can pump blood around the body faster. This is important to when a leopard is running. It runs a real risk of starvings its brain of oxygen so it is important that the oxygen carrying blood gets to the brain quick.
Respiratory System
The leopards also have enlarged lungs, nostrils and sinuses, helping it to intake as much oxygen as possible. Will in full stride a leopards breath rate will go from 60 to around 140/150 breaths a minute.
The Excretory System
Leopards have the same excretory system, but don’t need to drink much water, because they get the moisture they need from the bodies of their prey.
Leopards have the same excretory system, but don’t need to drink much water, because they get the moisture they need from the bodies of their prey.
Nervous System
The Leopards nervous stem is located in the front of their head. The central nervous system is where the sensory details are located and information is processed. This mainly is located in the meninges which has the brain and spinal chord in the system.
The Leopards nervous stem is located in the front of their head. The central nervous system is where the sensory details are located and information is processed. This mainly is located in the meninges which has the brain and spinal chord in the system.
- Cerebrum- The main portion of the brain, occupying the front part of the cranial cavity. It has two cerebral hemispheres united by the corpus callosum.It controls and integrates motor, sensory, and higher mental functions, such as thought, reason, emotion, and memory.
- Cerebellum- The part of the brain at the back of the skull. Its function is to coordinate and regulate muscular activity.
- Olfactory Bulb- The anterior and slightly enlarged end of the olfactory tract( just above the nasal cavity), from which the cranial nerves concerned with the sense of smell originate.
- Optic Lobe - Either of two lobes of the dorsal part of the midbrain, containing primary visual centers.
- Medulla Oblongata- The base of the brain, which is formed by the enlarged top of the spinal cord. The medulla oblongata directly controls breathing, blood flow, and other essential functions.
- Spinal Cord- The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies within the vertebral canal and from which the spinal nerves emerge. The spinal cord along with the brain, constitute the central nervous system. The spinal cord consists of nerve fibers that transmit impulses to and from the brain.
Reproduction
Leopards are promiscuous, as both males and females have multiple mates. Females attract potential mates by excreting pheromones in their urine. Females initiate mating by walking back and forth in front of a male and brushing up against him or swatting him with her tail. The male then mounts the female while frequently biting her nape. Copulation last an average of three seconds with six minute intervals between each copulation bout. A single breeding pair may copulate up to 100 times per day for several days, during which time they share food resources.
Leopards are promiscuous, as both males and females have multiple mates. Females attract potential mates by excreting pheromones in their urine. Females initiate mating by walking back and forth in front of a male and brushing up against him or swatting him with her tail. The male then mounts the female while frequently biting her nape. Copulation last an average of three seconds with six minute intervals between each copulation bout. A single breeding pair may copulate up to 100 times per day for several days, during which time they share food resources.
Food Habits
Leopards are ambush predators, pouncing on their prey before it chance to react. They approach potential prey by crouching low to the ground, getting as close as 3 to 10 m to prey before pouncing. Leopards are not likely to chase prey after the first pounce. Once a prey item is captured, they immediately break the prey's neck, causing paralysis. After breaking the prey's neck, leopards asphyxiate them and carry the carcass to a secluded feeding location, typically in a nearby tree. They may also cover prey carcasses in leaves and soil. Their tremendous strength allows them to tackle prey up to 10 times their own weight.
Leopards are ambush predators, pouncing on their prey before it chance to react. They approach potential prey by crouching low to the ground, getting as close as 3 to 10 m to prey before pouncing. Leopards are not likely to chase prey after the first pounce. Once a prey item is captured, they immediately break the prey's neck, causing paralysis. After breaking the prey's neck, leopards asphyxiate them and carry the carcass to a secluded feeding location, typically in a nearby tree. They may also cover prey carcasses in leaves and soil. Their tremendous strength allows them to tackle prey up to 10 times their own weight.
Life Span
In captivity, leopards can live to be 21 to 23 years old, with the oldest known individual being 27 years old.
Wild leopards may live to be 10 to 12 years old, with the oldest known individual being 17 years old.
Survival rates for cubs range from 41% to 50%.
Range lifespan Status: wild 17 years
Range lifespan Status: captivity 27 years
Typical lifespan Status: wild 10 to 12 years
Typical lifespan Status: captivity 21 to 23 years
In captivity, leopards can live to be 21 to 23 years old, with the oldest known individual being 27 years old.
Wild leopards may live to be 10 to 12 years old, with the oldest known individual being 17 years old.
Survival rates for cubs range from 41% to 50%.
Range lifespan Status: wild 17 years
Range lifespan Status: captivity 27 years
Typical lifespan Status: wild 10 to 12 years
Typical lifespan Status: captivity 21 to 23 years
Difference between Leopard and Cheetah
- The leopard is built for strength so it is very solid and stocky, with shorter legs.
- The cheetah being built for speed, so it is very slender with long legs.
- The leopard is nocturnal, so it is more active at night.
- The cheetah is diurnal, so more active during the day.
- The leopards spots are called rosettes, they are more of a cluster of black spots with a dark brown spot in the middle.
- The cheetahs spots are a solid black dot.
- The leopard had a much broader face.
- The cheetah has a rounder face with tear marks running from the inside of the eye to the corners of the mouth.
- The leopard has retractable claws (like your cat at home) which it puts put when it climbs up trees or catches its prey.
- The cheetah is the only cat with non-retractable claws, meaning they are out all the time.