snow leopards

SNOW LEOPARDS

B Y : DA W S O N L

A N D E R S

CLASSIFICATIONKingdom-AnamaliaPhylum-ChordataClass-MammaliaOrder-CarnivoraFamily-FelidaeGenus-UnicaSpecies-Panthera unica

Tigers, cheetahs and other leopards also fall into a similar classification

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Snow leopards are about 6 to 7ft tall, they have lots of fur and are very strong and agile.

*Fur (pelage) is thick and up to 5 inches long.

*Only difference between male and female is the male is 30% larger.

DISTRIBUTION Snow leopards are rare and endangered. Only 600 in captivity. Mostly found in China and central Asia.China and central asia.

CONSERVATION-Endangered

-4000 TO 7000 LEFT

-PROTECTED IN AFGANASTAN

IUCN red list lists them as endangered

HABITAT Snow leopards live in rocky caves in the mountains usually

above the tree line and under 16000ft. Good location for stalking and hunting prey.

Taijik mountains

REPRODUCTION - have 2 to 3 cubs - claws and pees on rocks to attract

mates - usually give birth in summer - 5-10 years fertile

PARENTAL CARE.Baby snow leopards stay with their mom until capable of living by themselves.

. THE MOTHER PREFERS TO DO ALL THE PARENTING

LONGEVITY AND MORALITY .5-10 years in wild. 3-18 years captivity. No difference in longevity between

males and females. Some cubs die after 30 days.Leopards tend to decrease in health at

about 15 years

SEASONAL PATTERNS.The snow leopard behavior is more shy adn timid but when aggravated can cause aggression

.Snow leopards do not migrate or hibernate

.No torpor either

.Snow leopards are most active at dawn

PREDATOR RELATIONSHIPS. The only prey of the snow leopard is the homo

sepian. Poachers are a huge threat for Snow Leopards

with them selling their skin and bones.

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS 1. Zoos/Captivity2. Research/Tagging3. Hunting/Poaching

Human interactions both help and hurt.HELP= research, scientists, HURT= poachers, hunters, angry farmers

FUN FACTSSnow leopards can jump the length of a school bus

Belly fur 5inch thick

The snow leopard does not growl

WORKS CITEDLandau, Elaine. Snow Leopards. Hunters of the Snow and Ice. Berkeley

Heights: Enslow, 2010. Print."Mammals: Snow Leopard." San Diego Zoo. Zoology Society of San Diego,

n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. <http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-snow_leopard.html>.

Montgomery, Sy. Saving the Ghost of the Mountain. New York: Sandpiper, 2009. Print.

"Snow Leopard." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/snow-leopard/>.

"Snow Leopard (Panthera unica)." Field Guide. Google Sites, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. <https://sites.google.com/site/biologybfinalproject/animalia/snow-leopard-panthera-uncia>.

"Snow Leopards." Panthera. Panthera, n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.panthera.org/species/snow-leopard>.