Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa): Difference between revisions

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* [[Blog:International Clouded Leopard Day 2023]]
* [[Blog:International Clouded Leopard Day 2023]]
[[Category:Animal index]]
[[Category:Felidae (family)]]
[[Category:Felidae (family)]]

Revision as of 11:46, 29 December 2023

Clouded leopard
Clouded leopard

The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), also called mainland clouded leopard, is a wild cat inhabiting dense forests from the foothills of the Himalayas through Northeast India and Bhutan to mainland Southeast Asia into South China.

Clouded leopard distribution map 2021
Clouded leopard distribution map 2021

In a nutshell

  • The clouded leopard is a wild cat that lives in the forests of Asia, from the Himalayas to Indonesia.
  • It has a distinctive coat pattern with large blotches and spots that resemble clouds.
  • It is the first cat that diverged from the common ancestor of the big cats, about 9 million years ago
  • It is not closely related to either the true leopards or the true small cats, and it cannot roar or purr.
  • It is one of the best climbers among the cats, and can hang upside down from branches and descend trees headfirst.
  • It has the largest canine teeth relative to its body size of any cat, which help it hunt prey such as deer, pigs, monkeys, squirrels and birds.
  • It is a vulnerable species, threatened by habitat loss and poaching for its fur and body parts.
  • It is rarely seen in the wild, and little is known about its behavior and ecology.

See also