Panthera pardus
Sign in to saveThe leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant cat species in the genus Panthera. It has a pale yellowish to dark golden fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes. Its body is slender and muscular, reaching a length of with a long tail and a shoulder height of . Males typically weigh , and females .
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The leopard is a large, spotted wild cat found in the genus Panthera, characterized by its golden fur marked with dark rose-shaped spot patterns, a muscular slender body, and a long tail. It matters as one of the five surviving species of big cats and represents an important part of wild cat diversity.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
SPECIES
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderCarnivora
- FamilyFelidae
via GBIF · CC0
Article
23 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Taxonomy
- Living subspecies
- Evolution
- Hybrids
- Characteristics
- Size
- Distribution and habitat
- Behaviour and ecology
- Social spacing
- Hunting and diet
- Enemies and competitors
- Reproduction and life cycle
- Conservation
- Threats
- Human relations
- Cultural significance
- Attacks on people
- In captivity
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the five extant cat species in the genus Panthera. It has a pale yellowish to dark golden fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes. Its body is slender and muscular, reaching a length of with a long tail and a shoulder height of . Males typically weigh , and females .
The leopard was first described in 1758, and several subspecies were proposed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, eight subspecies are recognised in its wide range in Africa and Asia. It initially evolved in Africa during the Early Pleistocene, before migrating into Eurasia around the Early–Middle Pleistocene transition. Leopards were formerly present across Europe, but became extinct in the region at around the end of the Late Pleistocene-early Holocene.