Matthew Feinman & Emma Miller

The Leopard ( Panthera pardus ) is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera , the other three being the tiger, lion and jaguar. Leopards are opportunistic and stealthy carnivorous hunters capable of running up to around 36 mph. They are highly adaptive to new habitats and hunting opportunities, excellent tree climbers, and can haul even the carcasses of heavier prey up along with them. Dragging the bodies of large animals up into the trees helps Leopards to keep scavengers, such as the spotted hyena , at bay. Leopards can also hunt from trees, where their spotted coats allow them to blend with the leaves until they spring with a deadly pounce. These nocturnal predators also stalk antelope, deer, and pigs by stealthy movements in the tall grass. When human settlements are present, leopards often attack dogs and, occasionally, people. Leopards are also very strong swimmers and have been known to eat fish and crabs.

We chose leopards because they are clearly the coolest of the big cat species. They have sweet spotted fur, climb trees like monkeys, and have the cuddliest babies. If I were a wild feline, I'd want to be leopard.

Leopards are found chiefly in sub-Saharan Africa, but isolated populations may also be found in

• Pakistan
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Indochina
• Malaysia
• China

Leopards hunt mainly at night, and always in ambush. As carnivores, leopards eat many different kinds of animals:

1. Boars
2. Antelope
3. Small rodents
4. Birds

Below are a few helpful definitions of leopard characteristics

"Big Cats"

Not a biological classification

Includes the four members of the genus Panthera (tiger, lion, leopard, and jaguar)

These are the only cats able to roar

Carnivore

Derived from the Latin carne meaning "flesh" and vorare meaning "to devour"

An organism whose diet consists exclusively of animal tissue

Nocturnality

Animal behavior characterized by being active at night and sleeping during the day

Evolutionarily, nocturnality is both a form of niche differentiation and, in hotter climates, an adaptation to avoid the sun's heat

The opposite of nocturnality is diurnality

---

Leopards, Leopard Pictures, Leopard Facts - National Geographic
Leopard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wild Cats. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Leopard: The Animal Files

Sweet leopard background here!