The base color of the snow leopard's coat is a warm gray color on its back which fades to white on it's belly. The coat is covered with dark spots. Individual spots cover the cat's limbs and face. On its back, the spots form rosettes. Its tail is striped and is very long when compared to that of other cats (its tail can be equal in length to the cat's body). The snow leopard's lengthy tail serves dual adaptive purposes. It provides much needed insulation (the cat covers its face with its tail to keep the cold out) and it works as a counterweight to help the cat balance as it jumps over rough terrain.
Snow leopards are solitary animals throughout most of the year but they do form pairs during the mating season which lasts from December through March. Snow leopards do not roar, although they are classified within the Genus Panthera (a group also referred to as the roaring cats which includes lions, leopards, tigers, and jaguars). Despite not roaring, snow leopards do possess the anatomical features thought to enable roaring (which include an elongated larynx and hyoid apparatus).
- Mass: 25-75kg (55-165lbs)
- Diet: large mammals (such as sheep, deer, and wild boar), small mammals (such as marmots, mice, and hares) and occassionally livestock
- Mating Season: December-March
- Number of Offspring: 1-4 (average 2)
Classification:
Where to See:
References:
- Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 p.
- Cat Facts (Snow Leopard Trust)
- Guggisberg C. 1975. Wild Cats of the World. New York: Taplinger Publishing Company.
- Snow Leopard (Wikipedia)
- Toriello K. 2002. Uncia uncia, Animal Diversity Web. December 13, 2007.
