Spotted Leopard
Panthera pardus
Description and Behavior
The leopard has the widest distribution of the wild cats, and shows great variation in appearance and behavior. In general, the coat color varies from pale yellow to deep gold or tawny, and is patterned with black rosettes. The head, lower limbs and belly are spotted with solid black. Coat color and patterning are broadly associated with habitat type. Trends in coloration for leopards in Africa range from orange/red in the savannah, pale cream and yellow brown in the desert, golden in the rainforest, to darker gold in the high mountains.
The so-called "black panthers" – remember, all big cats are “panthers”. Occurs most frequently in humid forest habitats and are a color variation, and are not a subspecies. Melanism is caused by a recessive genetic trait, so spotted leopards can give birth to black cubs.
Despite its relatively small body size, the leopard is still capable of taking large prey. Its skull is massive, giving ample room for attachment of powerful jaw muscles. In order to compete with other large predators, leopards will cache prey items in trees. Its whiskers are particularly long and there are often several extra long hairs in the eyebrows, protecting the eyes and assisting movement through vegetation in darkness. Leopards can live independent of water for periods of time, obtaining moisture requirements from prey. However, the leopard has an exceptional ability to adapt to changes in prey availability, and has a very broad diet. Small prey are taken where large ungulates are less common. This dietary flexibility permits it to compete successfully with other large predators. Leopards are generally most active between sunset and sunrise, and kill more prey at this time. The leopard is well known for its versatility as a generalist predator, and shows a number of morphological adaptations to this end, including its size, which shows wide variation across its range. Very large males (over 200 lbs) have been found in South Africa, where there are many large prey items, while males in the mountains of South Africa average 70 lbs. The smaller size of the mountain leopards is likely due to the smaller prey size.
Prey
The known prey of the leopard ranges from dung beetles to adult male eland, which can reach 2000 lbs. At least 92 prey species have been documented in the leopard’s diet in sub-Saharan Africa. Leopards generally focus their hunting activity on locally abundant medium-sized ungulate species in the 44 – 175 lb. range, while opportunistically taking other prey. This ability to hunt a wide range of prey has allowed the leopard to adapt to many environments and many pressures, including human encroachment.
Habitat
In general they are found in almost all habitats with annual rainfall above 50 mm (2 inches), but can penetrate areas with less than this amount of rainfall along river courses except in true deserts. Leopards are believed to be absent from the true desert of the central Arabian peninsula, although they are found near the Dead Sea, where annual rainfall is less than 50 mm (2 inches). Pine forest and Mediterranean scrub are also suitable habitats for the species in north-west Africa, Iran, and the Caucasus.
Out of all the African cats, the leopard is the only species which occupies both rainforest and arid desert habitats. The leopard appears to be very successful at adapting to altered natural habitat and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution. There are many records of their presence near major cities. They often move back into land after it is “developed”, and where they were considered exterminated.
Leopard home range sizes average between 11.6-30.1 square miles (males) and 5.8 to 6.1 square miles (females) in protected areas. They have discrete territories – male and female territories do not overlap.
Range
Leopards occur in most of sub-Saharan Africa (rare throughout much of West Africa), and in some habitats in Northern Africa and the Middle East.
Biology
| Weight | 85-125 lbs |
| Reproductive Season | Probably year-round, with a peak during main prey birthing season
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| Gestation Period | 96 (90-105) days
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| Litter Size | averages 2
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| Age at Independence | |
| Sexual Maturity | Females – 33 months; males – 35 months
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| Longevity | 10-15 in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity
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| Social Structure | solitary; except for family groups; territory does not overlap
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Principal Threats
Habitat loss, poaching
Role in Environment
Umbrella species; also kills rodents.
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