Leopard

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant cat species in the genus Panthera. It has a pale yellowish to dark golden fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes. Its body is slender and muscular, reaching a length of 92–183 cm (36–72 in) with a 66–102 cm (26–40 in) long tail and a shoulder height of 60–70 cm (24–28 in). Males typically weigh 30.9–72 kg (68–159 lb), and females 20.5–43 kg (45–95 lb).

The leopard was first described in 1758, and several subspecies were proposed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, eight subspecies are recognised in its wide range in Africa and Asia. It initially evolved in Africa during the Early Pleistocene, before migrating into Eurasia around the Early–Middle Pleistocene transition. Leopards were formerly present across Europe, but became extinct in the region at around the end of the Late Pleistocene-early Holocene.

The leopard is adapted to a variety of habitats ranging from rainforest to steppe, including arid and montane areas. It is an opportunistic predator, hunting mostly ungulates and primates. It relies on its spotted pattern for camouflage as it stalks and ambushes its prey, which it sometimes drags up a tree. It is a solitary animal outside the mating season and when raising cubs.

Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, leopard populations are currently threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and are declining in large parts of the global range. Leopards have had cultural roles in Ancient Greece, West Africa and modern Western culture. Leopard skins are popular in fashion.

Etymology

The English word "leopard" started from 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 common name for these big cats is "panther." This name also began 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 proposed by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The generic name Panthera was first used by Lorenz Oken in 1816.

The leopard was designated as the type species of Panthera by Joel Asaph Allen in 1902. In 1917, Reginald Innes Pocock also included the tiger, lion, and jaguar within Panthera.

Since 1996, only eight leopard subspecies have been widely accepted. In 2017, experts recognized these eight subspecies as valid.

Studies show that African leopards can have more genetic differences than Asian leopard subspecies. Research also suggests that the leopard, lion, and snow leopard share a close family connection, with their ancestors possibly interbreeding long ago.

The oldest leopard fossils found in Eastern Africa date back around 2 million years. Leopard-like bones and teeth from even earlier times have been discovered 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, thick fur that varies in color from pale yellowish to dark golden, with dark spots grouped in patterns called rosettes. These rosettes help the leopard blend into its surroundings, especially in areas with dense plants and shadows. The underbelly of a leopard is white, and its tail is ringed and shorter than its body.

Leopards living in dry areas tend to be lighter in color, while those in forests and mountains are darker. The spots on a leopard's body are unique to each individual, much like fingerprints in humans. Some leopards are born with a rare dark coloring and are called black panthers.

Distribution and habitat

The leopard has the largest distribution of all wild cats, living in many parts of Africa and Asia. Though their numbers are decreasing, they can be found in various habitats such as savanna, rainforest, grasslands, woodlands, and riparian forests. They are also able to live near people, especially if they have enough food and places to hide.

Leopards live in many different places, from West Africa to the Indian subcontinent and even in the Russian Far East. They adapt well to different environments, though they need enough space and prey to survive. Some areas, like the Arabian Peninsula, have smaller and scattered leopard populations.

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. One special sound is a deep "sawing" roar used to mark territory or find a mate.

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, using their sharp senses to stalk and catch prey. 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. In places with tigers, leopards are less common because tigers are larger and stronger.

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. Efforts are being made to help leopards live in areas where people also live, such as in the Russian Caucasus, where some leopards were raised in special areas and then released into the wild.

The leopard faces threats from losing its home due to human activities, conflicts with people who keep livestock, and hunting for its fur and bones. These challenges have caused leopard numbers to drop in many places.

Human relations

Cultural significance

Leopards have appeared in stories, art, and traditions across many cultures. In Greek mythology, the god Dionysus was 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 appears in stories like Rudyard Kipling's "Just So Stories", and it has been a popular design in clothing and symbols.

In captivity

The ancient Romans kept leopards for special events. In more recent times, leopards have sometimes been trained for circuses.