Leopard map Panthera pardus Vulnerable

Interesting facts

• The leopard has the widest distribution of all wild cats, across Africa and Asia, although populations are fragmented and declining. [source]
• The largest prey killed by a leopard was reportedly a male eland weighing 900 kg (2,000 lb). [source]
• The heaviest wild leopard in Southern Africa weighed around 96 kg (212 lb), and it measured 262 cm (103 in). [source]

About the leopard

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 92–183 cm (36–72 in) with a 66–102 cm (26–40 in) long tail and a shoulder height of 60–70 cm (24–28 in). Males typically weigh 30.9–72 kg (68–159 lb), and females 20.5–43 kg (45–95 lb).

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.

Subspecies (23)

Subspecies listed in Wikidata as children of Panthera pardus (fossil-only taxa excluded). Classification is debated for many animals and lists differ between authorities.

• 
  Panthera pardus pardus – African leopard
  on the map
• 
  Panthera pardus fusca – Indian leopard
  on the map
• 
  Panthera pardus kotiya – Sri Lankan leopard Vulnerable
  on the map
• 
  Panthera pardus delacouri – Indochinese leopard Critically endangered
  on the map
• 
  Panthera pardus saxicolor – Persian leopard
  11 open-licence GBIF records (too few to map)
• 
  Panthera pardus adersi – Zənzibar leopard
  no open-licence GBIF records
• Panthera pardus adusta
  no open-licence GBIF records
• Panthera pardus bedfordi
  no open-licence GBIF records
• Panthera pardus brockmani
  no open-licence GBIF records
• Panthera pardus ciscaucasia
  no open-licence GBIF records
• Panthera pardus ciscaucasica
  no open-licence GBIF records
• 
  Panthera pardus japonensis – North China leopard
  no open-licence GBIF records
• 
  Panthera pardus jarvisi – Sinai leopard
  no open-licence GBIF records
• 
  Panthera pardus melas Endangered
  3 open-licence GBIF records (too few to map)
• 
  Panthera pardus millardi – Kashmir leopard
  no open-licence GBIF records
• 
  Panthera pardus nimr – Arabian leopard
  no open-licence GBIF records
• 
  Panthera pardus orientalis
  4 open-licence GBIF records (too few to map)
• 
  Panthera pardus panthera – Barbary leopard
  no open-licence GBIF records
• 
  Panthera pardus pernigra
  no open-licence GBIF records
• Panthera pardus reichenowi
  no open-licence GBIF records
• Panthera pardus sickenbergi
  no open-licence GBIF records
• 
  Panthera pardus sindica – Balochistan leopard
  no open-licence GBIF records
• 
  Panthera pardus tulliana – Persian leopard Endangered
  no open-licence GBIF records

Photos

Text in “About”, “Interesting facts” and “Population” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Leopard (revision 1380027105), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: sentences excerpted verbatim, citations and formatting removed. No text added. Taxa and status: Wikidata Q34706 (CC0).

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