To combat this, snow leopards have large, wide feet that are covered in fur. The mountains of Central Asia are arid deserts of snow and ice. It is one of the thickest and longest of all big cats, growing up to 90% as long as the snow leopard’s body. The fur on their stomach can also grow to be around 5 inches thick.Ī snow leopard will also wrap its tail around its body, like a scarf or blanket, to help it stay warm while it rests. For a comparison, humans only have about 1,300 hair per square inch. To help them keep warm, their body is covered in a layer of dense fur, with nearly 26,000 hairs per square inch. Snow leopards can endure temperatures as low as -40 ☏ (-40 ☌). The live primarily in arid, barren mountain areas, and are usually solitary. Called “the ghost of the mountain”īecause of their elusive behavior and where they live, snow leopards have been giving the nickname ghost of the mountains. Today, poaching is still a prevalent, however, decline habitat and climate change pose a larger threat to the snow leopard’s survival. Historically, snow leopards have been hunted for their pelts and body parts for illegal trade and believed medicinal properties.
They have been hunted for their pelts and body parts This helps maximize the amount of oxygen absorbed by the body. They also have smaller red blood cells than other cat, and a lot more of them. Typically found roaming the highest mountains of Central Asia, they have adapted to living at these elevations by developing wide nasal passages and large chest cavities that increase the volume of air inhaled.
Snow leopards live at the highest altitudes of any cat. Snow leopards live at elevations up to 20,000 ft (6000 m) However, they have been known to switch to a more nocturnal lifestyle if they live closer to humans. They can usually be spotted hunting and moving about in the early morning and evening. Snow leopards are crepuscular, meaning that they are mainly active during the twilight hours. As of 2017, three possible subspecies have been recognized: Panthera uncia irbis, Panthera uncia uncia, and Panthera uncia uncioides. However, thanks to genetic analysis, they were found to belong to the Panthera genus.īecause of their elusive nature, much is still unknown about the species. The word is derived from the old French word once, which was used to describe the Eurasian lynx. Snow leopards were once believed to belong to their own monotypic genus, Uncia. The genus changed due to genetic analysis This makes them more closely related to each other than the other big cats within the genus. They are more related to tigers than leopardsĪccording to genetic analysis done in 2010, tigers and snow leopards come from the same ancient relative and began evolving 3.2 million years ago. Increased ranching and herding have also led to the decline of wild prey, driving snow leopards to prey on cattle and ranchers hunting them in retaliation.
With an estimated 7,000 left in the wild, snow leopards are vulnerable to extinction.Įxperts are concerned about the impact climate change is having on their habitat, reducing their range and food sources. However, this has been both contested and supported by other researchers. Studies from DNA evidence in 2017 supported claims that three subspecies of snow leopard should be recognised a subspecies from the Pamir Mountains, one from Mongolia and another in the Himalayas and Qinhai. Their diet consists of blue sheep, mountain ibex and tahr, markhor and wild goat. Their hunt for prey by silently stalking and attacking prey. With short front legs and longer hind legs, they have a stocky, muscular build that is perfect for traversing the mountainous terrain of Central Asia. They stand about 2 feet tall at the shoulder and don’t typically weigh more than 120 lbs. The snow leopard is the smallest among the big cats in its genus. Light grey or creamy yellow fur with grayish-black spotsĬarnivorous (blue sheep, mountain ibex, marmots, hares, birds) They spend much of their lives solidary in remote areas, roaming the vast, icy mountains they call home.ģ-5 ft (0.91-1.51m) from head to the base of the tail Typically found high in the mountains of Central Asia, they are considered one of the least understood felines. These rare big cats are built for the cold. Snow Leopards are shy, elusive mammals that are known for their grayish spotted fur, long tail, and bright blue eyes.
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