 |
| Leopard |
Panthera pardus |
| Total length |
160 - 210 cm |
|
| tail |
68 - 110 cm |
| shoulder height |
70 - 80 cm |
mass - Male
Female |
20 - 90 kg
17 - 60 kg |
| Identification markers: |
Large size; rosette spots on body, solid black
spots on legs, head, sides and hindquarters; lacks the black face-lines of Cheetah
and is more heavily spotted. Size, long tail and different form of spots make
easy differentiation from Serval. |
Description:
An elegant, powerfully built cat, with a beautifully spotted coat. The basic body
colour varies from almost white to orange-russet, with black spots on the legs,
flanks, hindquarters and head. The spots on the rest of the body consist of rosettes
or broken circles of irregular black spots. The tail is about half of the total
length, with rosette spots above and a white tip. The ears are rounded and white-tipped.
The underparts are usually white to off-white. Cubs have dark, woolly hair and
less-distinct spots.
Distribution:
Extremely widely distributed in southern Africa, but now absentfrom the sheep-farming
areas of central South Africa. Widely distributed inthe rest of sub-Saharan Africa,
the Middle East and through Asia into China. By far the most successful of the
large cats.
Habitat:
It has an extremely wide habitat tolerance, from high mountains to coastal plain,
from low- to high-rainfall areas. In the Cape Province south of the Orange River
it has been eradicated from all but the more mountainous and rugged areas. Although
drinking water is not essential, cover is an essential requirement.
Behaviour:
Normally solitary except when a pair come together to mate or when a female is
accompanied by cubs. Although it is mainly active at night, in areas where it
is not disturbed it can be seen moving during the cooler daylight hours. Although
it is mainly terrestrial it is a good climber and swimmer. Males mark and defend
a territory against other males, and a male’s territory may overlap that
of several females. Territories are marked with urine, droppings and tree-scratching
points. Home ranges may be as small as 10 km2 or cover areas of several hundred
square kilometres. The size is largely dependent on the availability of food.
Although normally silent the Leopard does have a characteristic call that has
been likened to the sound of a coarse saw cutting wood. Leopard stalk and then
pounce on their prey and do not rely on running at high speed like the Cheetah.
Food:
A broad diet, ranging from insects, rodents and birds to medium-sized and occasionally
large antelope. In some rocky and mountainous areas dassies make up an important
part of the diet. It will on occasion kill more than its immediate needs, the
surplus being stored for later use. Kills may be dragged under dense bush, amongst
rocks, or in some areas into trees out of reach of other predators. Leopard readily
feed from rotten carcasses.
Reproduction:
Litters of 2 - 3 cubs, each weighing around 500 g, are born in dense cover, rock
crevices or caves after a gestation of about 100 days. There is no fixed breeding
season.
|
