Leopard

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five existing cat species in the genus Panthera. It has pale yellowish to dark golden fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes. Its body is slender and strong, reaching a length of 92–183 cm (36–72 in) with a long tail and a shoulder height of 60–70 cm (24–28 in). Males are usually bigger than females.

The leopard was first described in 1758, and several subspecies were named later. Today, eight subspecies are known in Africa and Asia. It evolved in Africa and later moved into Eurasia. Leopards were formerly present across Europe, but they are no longer found there.

The leopard lives in many different places, from rainforest to steppe, including dry and high areas. It is an opportunistic hunter, mainly catching small animals and primates. Its spotted fur helps it hide as it stalks and catches its food. It often climbs a tree with its catch. Usually, it lives alone, except when mating or taking care of its young.

Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, leopard numbers are getting smaller because of habitat loss. Leopards have been important in the stories and traditions of Ancient Greece, West Africa, and modern Western culture. Leopard skins are often used in fashion.

Etymology

The word "leopard" began in Old French and Middle French. It comes from a Latin word that also has roots in ancient Greek. In Greek, the word may mix the words for "lion" and "spotted."

Another name for these big cats is "panther." This name also started in Latin and ancient Greek. The scientific name Panthera comes from an old hunting net used by the Romans.

Taxonomy

Felis pardus was the scientific name given by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The name Panthera was first used by Lorenz Oken in 1816.

The leopard became the type species of Panthera by Joel Asaph Allen in 1902. In 1917, Reginald Innes Pocock added the tiger, lion, and jaguar to Panthera.

Since 1996, only eight leopard subspecies are accepted. Experts agreed on this in 2017.

Studies show that African leopards can have more genetic differences than Asian leopards. Research also suggests that the leopard, lion, and snow leopard are closely related.

The oldest leopard fossils found in Eastern Africa are about 2 million years old. Leopard-like bones and teeth from even older times have been found in places like France, London, and Italy.

Hybrids

Main articles: Panthera hybrid and Pumapard

In 1953, a male leopard and a female lion were crossbred in Hanshin Park in Nishinomiya, Japan. Their offspring, called a leopon, was born in 1959 and 1961. These cubs had spots and were larger than young leopards.

Subspecies	Distribution	Image
African leopard (P. p. pardus) (Linnaeus, 1758)	It is the most widespread leopard subspecies and is native to most of Sub-Saharan Africa, but likely locally extinct in Mauritania, Togo, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya and most likely also in Gambia and Lesotho.
Indian leopard (P. p. fusca) (Meyer, 1794)	It occurs in the Indian subcontinent, Myanmar and southern Tibet. It is listed as Near Threatened.
Javan leopard (P. p. melas) (Cuvier, 1809)	It is native to Java in Indonesia and has been assessed as Endangered in 2021.
Arabian leopard (P. p. nimr) (Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1830)	It is the smallest leopard subspecies and considered endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. As of 2023, the population was estimated to comprise 100–120 individuals in Oman and Yemen; it was therefore assessed as Critically Endangered in 2023. It is locally extinct in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
P. p. tulliana (Valenciennes, 1856)	It occurs from eastern Turkey and the Caucasus to the Iranian Plateau and the Hindu Kush into the western Himalayas. It is listed as Endangered. It is locally extinct in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Balochistan leopard population in the south of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan is separated from the northern population by the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts.
Amur leopard (P. p. orientalis) (Schlegel, 1857)	It is native to the Russian Far East and northern China, but is locally extinct in the Korean peninsula.
Indochinese leopard (P. p. delacouri) Pocock, 1930	It occurs in mainland Southeast Asia and southern China, and is listed as Critically Endangered. It is locally extinct in Hong Kong, Singapore, Laos and Vietnam.
Sri Lankan leopard (P. p. kotiya) Deraniyagala, 1956	It is native to Sri Lanka and listed as Vulnerable.

Characteristics

The leopard has soft fur that can be pale yellow or dark golden. It has dark spots in patterns called rosettes. These help the leopard hide in places with lots of plants and shadows. The belly of a leopard is white, and its tail is ringed and shorter than its body.

Leopards in dry areas are lighter in color. Those in forests and mountains are darker. Each leopard's spots are unique, like fingerprints in humans. Some leopards are born with very dark fur and are called black panthers.

Distribution and habitat

The leopard lives in many parts of Africa and Asia, more than any other wild cat. Though there are fewer leopards now, they can live in places like savanna, rainforest, grasslands, woodlands, and riparian forests. They can also live close to people if they have food and hiding spots.

Leopards are found from West Africa to the Indian subcontinent and even in the Russian Far East. They can adapt to different places, but they need space and food to live. Some places, like the Arabian Peninsula, have smaller groups of leopards.

Behaviour and ecology

The leopard is a solitary and territorial animal, usually shy but alert around roads and vehicles. Adults only come together during mating season. Females stay close to their young even after the cubs are weaned and sometimes share food with them. Leopards make many sounds, like growls, snarls, and meows.

Leopards are mostly active at dusk and dawn, resting during the day in thickets, rocks, or trees. They can climb trees very well and run over 58 km/h (36 mph). They also can leap over 6 m (20 ft) across and jump up to 3 m (9.8 ft) up.

Leopards prefer to hunt medium-sized animals, such as impalas and bushbucks. They mainly hunt at night but sometimes hunt during the day. Leopards can eat up to 3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz) a day and get water from their food.

Other big animals, like lions and hyenas, sometimes take food from leopards. Leopards usually keep their kills in trees to protect them.

Leopards usually have two to four cubs after a pregnancy of about three months. The cubs stay with their mother for about two years before leaving on their own. Leopards can live up to 17 years in the wild.

Conservation

The leopard is protected by international laws, and hunting is banned in some countries. People are working to help leopards live where humans also live. For example, in the Russian Caucasus, some leopards were raised in special areas and then released into the wild.

Leopards face threats because of human activities that take away their homes, conflicts with people who keep livestock, and hunting for their fur and bones. These challenges have caused leopard numbers to drop in many places.

Human relations

Cultural significance

Leopards appear in many stories, artworks, and traditions around the world. In Greek mythology, the god Dionysus is often shown wearing leopard skin and using leopards to travel. During the time of the Benin Empire, leopards were used in art to show the power of the king. The Ashanti people also used the leopard as a symbol of leadership. The leopard is found in stories like Rudyard Kipling's "Just So Stories", and it is a popular design in clothing and symbols.

In captivity

The ancient Romans kept leopards for special events. Today, leopards are sometimes trained for circuses.