The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), also known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because the global population is estimated to number less than 10,000 mature individuals and is expected to decline about 10% by 2040. Snow Leopards a solitary animals meaning they like to live alone. A large male may reach 75 kg (165 lb), while a small female may weigh under 25 kg (55 lb). The snow leopard inhabits mountainous areas of Siberia, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia, Tibet, India, Nepal, or Uzbekistan. Snow leopard habitat is made up chiefly by temperate shrublands, tundra grasslands and steppe in arid or semi-arid regions. Humans also hunt the snow leopard's prey, forcing the animal to encroach on human settlements to find food. In the wild, most cats live between 15 and 18 years, but snow leopards live about 25 years in captivity. Their thick fur patterned with dark rosettes and spots (a pattern that is unique to each individual snow leopard) is the perfect camouflage for their rocky habitat, allowing them to stalk their prey. Essentially, snow leopards will eat any animal that's two to four times their own weight or less. Other snow leopard habitat regions in China includes Qinghai and Tibet as well as Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan and Yunnan. Laurascudder, GNU Free Documentation License. Between 2,500 to 10,000 adult snow leopards remain in the wild, but the species continues to face daunting threats to its survival. They are often killed by herders and ranchers whose livestock they have taken, and their bones and hides are sought after by hunters and poachers for the illegal animal trade. These traits also distinguish the snow leopard from other big cats. Gentle: snow leopards are not known to be aggressive toward humans. The snow leopard's fur camouflages the cat against rocky terrain and protects it from cold temperatures. Its short muzzle and small ears also help the animal conserve heat. They are found in 12 countriesincluding China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, and Mongolia. The leopard mostly eats wild sheep and goats. Its soft coat, consisting of a dense insulating undercoat and a thick outercoat of hairs about 5 cm (2 inches) long, is pale grayish with dark rosettes and a dark streak along the spine. The snow leopard was on the endangered species list from 1972 until 2017. Snow leopards live in harsh, snowy, rugged alpine regions in central and south Asia. While other big cats have golden eyes, the snow leopard's eyes are gray or green. She’s on the lookout for a snack. Picture by Tambako the Jaguar / Getty Images, African Lion Facts: Habitat, Diet, Behavior, Fascinating Arctic Fox Facts (Vulpes lagopus), 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T22732A50664030.en, Fading footprints; the killing and trade of snow leopards, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. Snow leopards are weaned by 10 weeks of age and remain with their mother for up to 18-22 months. Thick fur also covers the cat's large paws, helping to grip slick surfaces and minimize heat loss. They can also be found in the spectacular rhododendron forests and are frequently found along steep rocky slopes. The snow leopard lives in a dozen countries in mostly mountainous areas of Central and South Asia. It stands about 0.6 metre (2 feet) high at the shoulder and weighs 23–41 kg (50–90 pounds). Snow Leopards cannot roar but they make other sounds such as growling, chuffing, hissing and meowing. Even though snow leopards are classified into the genus Panthera, they resemble a great amount of similarity to tigers.… Keeping Warm On day six of creation week, God created the cat kind with a suite of designs that we see expressed uniquely today in different members of the cat kind in a variety of climates. While they aren't aggressive toward humans, snow leopards do not make good pets because they require considerable space and raw meat, and males spray to mark territory. Snow leopards are the only species of big cat that inhabit the cold deserts of High Asia. Formerly classified as Leo uncia, the snow leopard has been placed—with the lion, tiger, and other big cats—in the genus Panthera. Their fur keeps them well insulated in cold weather - … The habitat in this area can be classified as Temperate, Broad leaf Vegtation, and Mixed Forests. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. They live about 6500 to 20000 feet high on mountain slopes and snowy peaks. Several factors have contributed to their decline. Leopards are arboreal big cats that belong to the species Panthera pardus. Because of the presence of certain skeletal features, such as having a shorter skull and having more-rounded eye orbits than other big cats, the snow leopard has also been classified by some authorities as the sole member of the genus Uncia. It makes habitat at high altitudes reaching 14,000 feet above the sea level. With its unique features, the snow leopard stays warm, travels safely, and sustains itself on what food can be found in its treacherous habitat. The female finds a rocky den, which she lines with fur from her belly. Snow leopards can be found in Central and South Asia, but the vast majority of snow leopards reside in China. Usually they are solitary, but pairs have been known to hunt together. 2. A rare appearance of snow leopard recently shifted focus back to the wild cat’s shifting habitat and its unknown census in Kashmir. Snow Leopards are really big. Their wild prey has decreased as herding and ranching activities have expanded throughout their geographic range. It communicates using mews, growls, chuffing, hisses, and wails. The Amur Leopard fur has a pale color as compared to the other leopard species, which helps it to camouflage in the snow. The snow leopard has several physical characteristics that are adapted to its environment. Global warming increases the altitude of the tree line, diminishing the range of the cat and its prey. They can be found in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Bhutan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Also unlike other big cats, the snow leopard cannot roar. Snow leopard, also called ounce, large long-haired Asian cat, classified as either Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia in the family Felidae. The snow leopard attains a length of about 2.1 metres (7 feet), including the 0.9-metre- (3-foot-) long tail. Snow leopards play a key role as both a top predator and as an indicator of the health of their high-altitude habitat, ranging from an elevation of about 6,000 feet in the winter to about 18,000 feet in the summer. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Its patterned coat helps it blend in with the steep rocky slopes above the tree line in the Asian mountains. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. They’re well adapted to their cold environment. Snow leopard cubs have black spots that turn into rosettes as the cats approach maturity. Snow leopard’s hind legs are so powerful that they … Scientists believe this trait naturally reduces the chance of inbreeding. During the summer, the snow leopard inhabits mountainous meadows above the tree line in rocky alpine regions at an altitude of 2,700 metres (8,900 feet) to 6,000 metres (20,000 feet). Carnivorous: the cat’s main prey are ibex, argali and blue sheep. In Mongolia, the snow leopards are found in Kanghai Mountains and Gobi Altai mountains. The snow leopard is hunted for its fur and body parts and killed to protect livestock. A snow leopard is a rare species of wildlife animal, which is on the verge of extinction. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/animal/snow-leopard, National Geographic - Animals - Snow Leopard, San Diego Zoo Animals and Plants - Snow Leopard, International Union for Conservation of Nature. They can leap six times the length of their body. The sole predator of … They are more commonly found in the Himalayan mountain range, but frequent other Asian mountain ranges as well. The primary habitat of Amur Leopard is in boreal forests which are temperate forests. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. They can be found at elevations between 3,000 to 5,000 metres across a total of 12 different countries. By helping to protect the snow leopard, we’re helping to conserve its environment for the benefit of people and nature. Wild snow leopards live in the mountains of central and south Asia, which means that a snow leopard habitat contains many other animals native to these areas. Male snow leopards are larger than females, but they have a similar appearance. Ounce and the species name uncia derive from the old French word once, which means "lynx." Snow leopards do not hunt adult yaks or humans. On average, a snow leopard's length is between 75 and 150 cm (30 to 59 in), plus a tail that's 80 to 105 cm (31 to 41 in) long. Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber, a German naturalist was probably the first person who described snow leopard back in 1977. They aren’t … Genetic studies show that the common ancestor of snow leopards and tigers diverged from the lineage of big cats about 3.9 million years ago and that snow leopards branched from tigers about 3.2 million years ago. Cold and dry: the snow leopard primarily lives in arid, barren mountain areas. Their population is still considered to be declining, although they have been upgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (last assessed Nov. 2016).. 4. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Omissions? The snow leopard inhabits the mountains of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, ranging from an elevation of about 1,800 metres (about 6,000 feet) in the winter to about 5,500 metres (18,000 feet) in the summer. The average snow leopard weighs between 22 and 55 kg (49 to 121 lb). Habitat. As more people move into the snow leopard’s domain, … A snow leopard peers down from a craggy rock ledge high in the peaks of Mongolia, a country in Asia. The snow leopard habitat is a rugged one of isolated mountain ranges over 9,840 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level. Snow leopards are some of the biggest cats in the world. An additional 600 snow leopards live in captivity. snow leopard (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia) In 2016, an estimated 4,500–8,000 snow leopards are left in the wild—much larger than previously thought (4,000–6,500 in 2003). Snow leopards live in alpine meadows as well as in treeless rocky mountains. They are widely distributed in the Himalayas in Bhutan, Nepal, and India as well as the Tibetan plateau. Corrections? In the Himalayas, snow leopards live in high alpine areas, mostly above the tree line and up to 18,000 feet in elevation. Cubs may be eaten by birds of prey, but only humans hunt the adult cats. Known for their elusive nature, snow leopards are referred to by locals as “mountain ghosts.” As one of the most mysterious species on the planet, the snow leopard remains one of the least understood, and seen, of the big cats. They also eat grass, twigs, and other vegetation. Even though their distribution is relatively wide, and they have recently been declared to a lesser degree of threat, the last 4,000 to 9,000 snow leopards are at risk from poaching and climate change. The IUCN Red List now categorizes the snow leopard as a vulnerable species. 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