Snow Leopard
| Snow Leopard[1] | |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Pantherinae |
| Genus: | Uncia |
| Species: | U. uncia |
| Binomial name | |
| Uncia uncia (Schreber, 1775) |
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| Range map | |
| Synonyms | |
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Uncia uncia |
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The Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) is a feline, living in central Asia.
Although the Snow Leopard is named "Leopard" and also looks a bit like a smaller leopard, they are not closely related.
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Appearance [change]
Snow Leopards are about 1.4 meters long and have a 90-100 centimeter long tail. They weigh up to 75 kilograms. They have gray and white fur with dark rosettes and spots, and their tails have stripes. Its fur is very long and thick to protect it against the cold. Their feet are also big and furry, which helps them to walk on snow easier. They can also jump very far, about 50 feet [15 meters]. They are one of the only cats who can not roar or purr.[3]
Life [change]
Snow Leopards are mostly active at night. They live alone. After a pregnancy of about a hundred days the female gives birth to usually 2-3 babies. They are very big cats. People usually kill them for their fur.They use their long tails for balance and as blankets to cover sensitive body parts against the severe mountain chill.
Symbolism [change]
The Snow Leopard is Pakistan's national predator and one of its official icons.[source?]
Prey [change]
The snow leopard is a carnivore and likes to eat medium sized prey. It mainly eats Ibex, blue sheep and Bharal (mountain goats and sheep), but it only kills about twice a month.
References [change]
- ↑ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 548. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3.
- ↑ Cat Specialist Group (2002). Uncia uncia. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
- ↑ Weissengruber, GE; G Forstenpointner, G Peters, A Kübber-Heiss, and WT Fitch (September 2002). "Hyoid apparatus and pharynx in the lion (Panthera leo), jaguar (Panthera onca), tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and domestic cat (Felis silvestris f. catus)". Journal of Anatomy. Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. pp. 195–209. doi:10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00088.x. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1570911. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
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