Leopard in Gir Forest...

 

               Indian Leopard

The Indian leopard is one of the five big cats found in India, apart from the Asiatic lion, the Bengal tiger, the snow leopard and the clouded leopard\(Panthera pardus fusca) is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. 

The species Panthera pardus is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because populations have declined following habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for the illegal trade of skins and body parts, and persecution due to conflict situations.


Scientific name : Panthera pardus

Speed  : 58 km/h (Running)

 Life

Lifespan     : 12 – 17 years     
  Height        : 45 – 80 cm (Adult, At Shoulder)

 Mass        : Male: 31 kg ,   Female: 23 – 27 kg 

Classification

Leopard characteristics are recognized in their classification as catlike carnivores (suborder Feliformia) and as roaring cats (genusPanthera). Their complete taxonomy, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), is:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Subkingdom: Bilateria
• Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Subphylum: Vertebrata
• Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
• Superclass: Tetrapoda
• Class: Mammalia
• Subclass: Theria
• Infraclass: Eutheria
• Order: Carnivora
• Suborder: Feliformia
• Family: Felidae
• Subfamily: Pantherinae
• Genus & species: Panthera pardus
• Subspecies:

Panthera pardus delacouri (Indochinese leopard)
Panthera pardus fusca (Indian leopard)
Panthera pardus japonensis (North China leopard)
Panthera pardus kotiya (Sri Lankan leopard)
Panthera pardus melas (Javan leopard)
Panthera pardus nimr (Arabian leopard)
Panthera pardus orientalis (Amur leopard)
Panthera pardus pardus (African leopard)
Panthera pardus saxicolor (Caucasian leopard, Central Asian leopard, Persian leopard)

This regal, spotted animal - prince of cats to some - is cleverer than the Tiger and fiercer than the Lion. 

The Leopard is one of the most beautiful and graceful animals in the jungle, also the most dangerous.

The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats," the other three being the tiger, lion and jaguar. There are nine recognized subspecies of leopard. All subspecies except the African leopard can be found in Asia, South Asia, and India.

Diet

Leopards eat small hoofstock such as gazelle, impala, deer and wildebeast. On occasion, they may also hunt monkeys, rodents and birds. They often bring their prey up into the branches of a tree to eat it and protect it from other predators and scavengers.

Range

Leopards are found throughout most of Africa and Asia from the middle east to the Soviet Union, Korea, China, India, and Malaysia. Leopards live in a variety of habitats including forests, mountains, grassland and deserts.

Behavior

Leopards are nocturnal animals, meaning they are active at night. During the day, they rest in thick brush or in trees. Leopards are solitary, preferring to live alone. They are very agile and good swimmers. They are able to leap more than 20 feet.

Reproduction

Following a 90 - 105 day gestation, one to six kittens are born. The average litter size is two or three. Kittens weigh about one pound when they are born. They will stay with their mother for 18 to 24 months.