What is a Leopard?

A leopard is a large, wild member of the Felidae family. It is the smallest of what they call the four “big cats”, which are the lion, the tiger, the jaguar, and the Leopard.

The Leopard is known for having shorter legs, a long body, large skull, and rosettes that are unlike the spots of other cats. These rosettes are what leopard print clothing is modeled after, including the leopard print dress. As with the jaguar, there are some leopards that are completely black, and these are known as black panthers.

These animals have had a very successful existence in the wild, mostly due to their hunting behavior which is considered to be very opportunistic. The Leopard will eat almost anything it can catch, is strong enough to carry entire carcasses up into tress, and has a large enough skull to take down large game.

It is also fast, being able to run about 35 miles per hour, and is incredibly stealthy. The Leopard once ranged far and wide through Asia and Africa, though their range has been significantly reduced due to human hunting and the destruction of their natural habitat.

Leopards are very powerful creatures. They can jump up to 20 feet horizontally, can leap nearly 10 feet vertically, and have been known to drag carcasses of their prey up into trees and hang them there.

They produce a number of different sounds, including grunts, roars, meows, growls, and sawing sounds. The Leopard’s diet varies greatly compared to other big cats, ranging from small beetles to giant elands that weigh in at over 1,000 pounds.

The Leopard has been classified a nearly threatened species, mostly due to its decrease in habitat and numbers. Litters are usually consist of 2 to 4 cubs, though only 1 or 2 will survive their first year of life. Leopards have been known to reach an age of 21 years in captivity.