Misplaced Pages

Snow leopard

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Aoi (talk | contribs) at 03:17, 24 May 2005 (rv vandalism). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 03:17, 24 May 2005 by Aoi (talk | contribs) (rv vandalism)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Template:Taxobox begin
Template:StatusEndangered Template:Taxobox image Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox phylum entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox familia entry Template:Taxobox genus entry Template:Taxobox species entry Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox section binomial parens Template:Taxobox end

The Snow Leopard or Ounce (Uncia uncia) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of central Asia. Until recently many taxonomists included the Snow Leopard in the genus Panthera with several of the other largest felids. It is not a true leopard.

Weighing up to 75 kilograms, it can be distinguished from other similar species by its proportionately longer tail, which helps it maintain its balance on the often steep slopes of its mountainous environment, and is used to cover its nose and mouth in very cold conditions. Its big furry feet act as snowshoes, like those of the Lynx. In summer they usually live above the tree-line on mountainous meadows and in rocky regions at an altitude of up to 6000 m. In winter they come down into the forests at an altitude of about 2000 m. They lead largely solitary lives.

Snow Leopards have gray-and-white fur with numerous rosettes on the flanks and spots on the head and neck, similar to jaguars. Tails are striped. They are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever meat they may find; they often kill animals three times their size, including domestic livestock.

The Snow Leopard is an endangered species whose pelts command a very high price in the fur market. During the 1960s total population went down to 1000 animals, but has recovered meanwhile to more than 6000 animals.

Snow Leopards are successfully being bred in captivity.

The Snow Leopard is a national symbol for Tatars and Kazakhs, and a winged Snow Leopard is found on Tatarstan's coat of arms. The Snow Leopard award was given to Soviet mountaineers who summited all 5 of the Soviet Union's 7000m peaks.

]{{{caption}}}

External links

Category: