Snow Leopard Pictures, Information and Facts
The Snow Leopard is a big cat primarily found in the mountains of southern and central Asia. Snow Leopards live between 9800 and 17,000 feet (3000-5500 meters) above sea level. However they are evasive by nature so exact numbers for this species is hard to determine.
Snow Leopards are approximately 6-7.5 feet (1.8-2.3m) in length 40-inch (1m) of
which is tail. They weigh 77-120 lbs (35-55 kg). have a light colored coat with
darker spots. Their fur is long, thick and warm. Their coloring can range from white
with a faded yellow to white with a smoky grey, but they always share the same white
underbelly. Their feet are large and padded with retractable claws. These things
make it well suited to its snowy mountain home. In fact, Snow Leopard have many physical adaptations due to living in a cold environment. Their fur is thick to
keep out the cold. Their feet are large to help them run in the snow. Their ears are smaller than other big cats to reduce heat loss. Their nasal cavity is larger
which helps them breathe the cold winter air. And Their tails are long and strong
to help them keep their balance as they run in the snowy mountains.
Snow Leopards like many big cats are solitary hunters. They prefer to attack from above. They are great jumpers. They often choose to chase their prey down steep mountainsides. They prey on large birds and mammals of all sizes. Snow Leopards
are territorial. Their territories span 12 to 40 km. Though they will aggressively
defend their territory from other predators, they are not as aggressive when they
are approached by other Leopards.
Because of their reclusive nature it is hard to determine the average life span
of a Snow Leopard. It is thought to be slightly longer than most big cats, at 15-18 years. There have been life spans of up to 21years in captivity. Mother Snow Leopards
have 2 or three cubs per litter. The Mothers make rocky dens lined with their own
soft thick fur. When they are three months old the cubs will follow their mothers
on hunts. Their mother remains with them through their first winter. Then they are
full grown Snow Leopards.
- Although Snow Leopards are carnivorous predators, they also eat a significant amount of vegetation/grass.
- Snow Leopards value their safety highly and will readily give up their prey if threatened by a stronger fighter, not unlike the cheetah
- Snow Leopards can make 50 foot (14 m) leaps!
Snow Leopard Information
- Where snow leopards live: While the exact number of snow leopards in the wild is unknown, this secretive animal is estimated to have a population anywhere between 3,500 to 7,000 in the wild, and 600 to 700 in zoos around the world. The snow leopard makes its homes in the mountain ranges of Central and Southern Asia, living between elevations of 9,800 to 18,000 feet above sea level.
- What snow leopards eat: Subsisting mainly on mountain goats and sheep, the snow leopard also hunts deer, boar and monkeys, depending on availability of what it normally eats. It also eats smaller animals such as various rodents, rabbits and birds. While not averse to taking livestock, the snow leopard is easily driven away by herders, being the least aggressive of all the big cats.
- Family structure: Giving birth to from one to five cubs during April, May or June, snow leopards like to build dens in rocky locales or crevices, which the mother lines with fur shed from her underside. Born blind, the cubs can walk by week five, are weaned by week 10, and can leave the den by four months of age, but the cubs remain with the mother until becoming independent between 18 and 22 months.
- Habitat: The snow leopard's habitat varies between the warmer months and winter. In winter, the animal resides in the mountain forests between 3,900 and 6,000 feet. In the warmer months, the snow leopard lives above the tree line between 8,900 and 20,000 feet. It prefers broken terrain and mountain meadows, and can travel in snow of around three feet in depth with little to no difficulty.
The home range of any one snow leopard is well defined, though encroachment by other snow leopards doesn't necessarily lead to an aggressive defense of its territory. Size of that territory is also dependent on availability of prey, with some ranges being as small as five square miles (with about five to 10 snow leopards present) in Nepal and up to 400 square miles (with maybe five snow leopards) where prey is sparse.
- Endangered status: The snow leopard is listed as endangered, according to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), is on the IUCN Red List as endangered, and is on CITES is listed in Appendix I.
Physical Characteristics
Smaller than other big cats, snow leopards typically stand about two feet at the shoulder, have a body length ranging from 31 to 39 inches, and weigh in at around 60 to 120 pounds. The animal's fur is thick and long, varying from gray to tan with a white underbelly. The fur on its body has gray to black rosettes, and the same colored, but smaller, spots on their head. The snow leopard's eyes range from in color from gray to green.
The adaptations shown for living in a cold, mountainous environment include the snow leopard's stocky body, thick fur, and small, rounded ears, all of which mitigate heat loss. The animal has wide paws for better distribution of weight while walking on snow. The fur on the snow leopard's underbelly also helps it when trying to scale steep and unstable surfaces, affording a better grip as it crawls along the ground. Other adaptations include a long and flexible tail for improved balance; the tails are also covered in thick fur, which allows it to be used like a blanket to protect the snow leopard's face while sleeping.
The snow leopard also has large nasal openings, which help it take in more oxygen at the high elevations in which it lives. The snow leopard is not able to roar, instead vocalizing using growls, hisses, mews and wails.