The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the larger members of the cat family and is found in a wide range of habitats, having the most extensive distribution of any of the wild species of cat, occurring throughout much of Africa and Asia. The body of an adult is about 1.2 metres long, exclusive of a one metre long tail. Typically the coat is pale tan in colour, and it is marked with broken circles of black spots. Unlike the rosettes of the American jaguar, these circles have no central spot. Specimens with darker ground colours are seen, and some leopards-born in otherwise ordinary litters-are completely black and are known as black panthers.
Leopards are agile climbers, and will often stalk monkeys in the trees, or lie in wait on a limb for a terrestrial animal to pass by. They hunt mainly at night. When game is scarce, a leopard will eat field mice, fruit, porcupines, baboons, or crocodiles. The female bears about four young per litter. Research Leopard
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Nature
Research Leopard
