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Leopard

Mammals

The leopard is a large cat with one of the widest geographic ranges of any wild cat species, found across parts of sub-Saharan Africa and fragmented areas of the Middle East and Asia, recognized by its tawny to golden coat covered in dark rosette-shaped spots, distinguishable from the jaguar's rosettes by lacking a central spot. It is an exceptionally adaptable and stealthy predator, equally at home in dense rainforest, open savanna, mountains or semi-desert, and it is renowned for its strength relative to its size, often hauling prey carcasses far larger than itself up into trees to keep them safe from other predators and scavengers. Leopards are solitary and mainly nocturnal, and although the species as a whole remains present across a broad range, it is classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss, declining prey and conflict with humans, with several regional subspecies far more severely threatened.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Detritivore or Scavenger 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
It has a pale yellowish to dark golden fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes. 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Appendix I 1
Scientific Name
Panthera pardus 1
Conservation Status
Vulnerable 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Panthera, Taxa
Source Catalogue of Life

In Biome

Steppe, Biomes
Source Leopard (Wikipedia)
Tropical Rainforest, Biomes
Source Leopard (Wikipedia)

In Ecosystem

Kalahari Desert, Ecosystems
Source Leopard (Wikipedia)
Kruger National Park, Ecosystems
Source Leopard (Wikipedia)
Sahara Desert, Ecosystems
Source Leopard (Wikipedia)
Serengeti, Ecosystems
Source Leopard (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Botswana

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Eswatini

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Lesotho

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Mozambique

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Namibia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Taiwan

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Turkmenistan

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Zimbabwe

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Leopard (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section, opening sentence
    The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant cat species in the genus Panthera.
  • Lead section, coat description sentence
    It has a pale yellowish to dark golden fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes.
  • Lead section
    Leopard skins are popular in fashion
  • Article text
    The leopard is listed on CITES Appendix I, and hunting is banned in Botswana and Afghanistan; in 11 sub-Saharan countries, trade is restricted to skins and body parts of 2,560 individuals.
  • Infobox: status
    VU
  • In Biome: Tropical Rainforest, Wikipedia 'Leopard': adapted to a variety of habitats ranging from rainforest to steppe
  • In Biome: Steppe, Wikipedia 'Leopard': adapted to a variety of habitats ranging from rainforest to steppe
  • In Ecosystem: Serengeti, Social spacing
    In the Serengeti, males have home ranges of 33-38 km2 (13-15 sq mi) and females of 14-16 km2 (5.4-6.2 sq mi); but males in northeastern Namibia of 451 km2 (174 sq mi) and females of 188 km2 (73 sq mi).
  • In Ecosystem: Sahara Desert, Distribution and habitat
    The leopard's range in West Africa is estimated to have declined by 95%, and in the Sahara desert by 97%.
  • In Ecosystem: Kalahari Desert, Hunting and diet
    In the southern Kalahari Desert, leopards meet their water requirements by the bodily fluids of prey and succulent plants; they drink water every two to three days and feed infrequently on moisture-rich plants such as gemsbok cucumbers, watermelon and Kalahari sour grass.
  • In Ecosystem: Kruger National Park, Social spacing
    In Kruger National Park, most leopards tend to keep 1 km (0.62 mi) apart.
View the Source
2. Leopard (Wikidata)
Wikidata
  • Statements section, habitat (P2974): Terrestrial
    Wikidata habitat statement (P2974) resolves to a terrestrial habitat type.
  • Statements section, conservation status (P141)
    IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
  • Wikidata Q34706 (P1034 main food source): impala
    Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): impala.
  • Wikidata Q34706 (P1034 main food source): carrion
    Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): carrion.
  • Wikidata Q34706 (P1034 main food source): Scolytinae
    Main food source (Wikidata property P1034): Scolytinae.
View the Source
Wikidata: Leopard
Wikidata Q34706, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Catalogue of Life
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of LifeChild Taxon Of: PantheraView the Source
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