Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Felidae
Subfamily:Pantherinae
Genus:Uncia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Felidae
Subfamily:Pantherinae
Genus:Uncia
Species:U. uncia
Binomial name:Uncia uncia
Binomial name:Uncia uncia
Description/ Habitat
Snow leopards are a little smaller than big cats like the tiger and lion but both, exhibit a range of sizes, mostly weighing between 27 and 54 kg. The length of their body ranges from about 74–130 cm with a tail of nearly the same length!
Snow leopards have very long and thick fur and their ears are small and rounded, the base color of their body, varies from smokey grey to yellowish tan, with just white underparts. They have dark grey rosettes on their body with small spots of the same colour on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tail.
The snow leopard has a few adaptations that allows it to live in a snowy environment,it has thick long fur and its ears are small and rounded to reduce the amount of heat lost. They have wide feet with fur(fur creates more friction) for walking on snow.
Snow leopards have very long and thick fur and their ears are small and rounded, the base color of their body, varies from smokey grey to yellowish tan, with just white underparts. They have dark grey rosettes on their body with small spots of the same colour on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tail.
The snow leopard has a few adaptations that allows it to live in a snowy environment,it has thick long fur and its ears are small and rounded to reduce the amount of heat lost. They have wide feet with fur(fur creates more friction) for walking on snow.
Diet
Snow leopards are meat eaters(carnivores) and actively hunt their prey, but like all cats are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever meat it can find. They are capable of killing animals almost three times their size! It can readily take much smaller prey such as birds.
The diet of the snow leopard varies in where they live in and is dependant on prey availability. Smaller prey consists of marmots, woolly hares, various rodents, and birds such as the snow cock and chukar.
Snow leopards prefer to ambush prey from above and can leap as far as 14 meters.
The diet of the snow leopard varies in where they live in and is dependant on prey availability. Smaller prey consists of marmots, woolly hares, various rodents, and birds such as the snow cock and chukar.
Snow leopards prefer to ambush prey from above and can leap as far as 14 meters.
Breeding
Snow leopards usually mate during late winter and their gestation period is about 90–100 days. Litter sizes vary from one to five cubs but two or three is more usual. The cubs remain with their mother until they become about 18–22 months.
Snow leopards normally live for 15–18 years, but may live for up to 20 years in captivity.
Snow leopards normally live for 15–18 years, but may live for up to 20 years in captivity.
conservation
Due to the high demand for their coats, snow leopards are illegally hunted for the fur trade.
references:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Leopard
references:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Leopard
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