Panthera pardus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Leopard is the smallest of the four "Big Cats". It is well known for its stealth and its adaptibility to different habitats, which make it more successful in the wild than other big cats.

Panthera pardus fusca (Meyer, 1794)

Size considerably less than that of the tiger or lion, the length of the head and body seldom exceeding 4 ft., with the tail considerably over half the length of the head and body, the hair on the cheeks never growing into a definite fringe longer than that of the body and, although the hair on the nape typically forms a median crest from the junction of convergent streams from the sides of the neck, as in lions, it never, even in the male. forms anything approaching a definite mane. The coat varies greatly in length, thickness, and texture, according to the season, in some races ; the ground colour above is also exceedingly variable, from greyish or whitish-buff, with sometimes hardly a trace of buff, to olivaceous with a huffish tinge, or to bright reddish-oehreous ; below, from the front of the upper lip and chin backwards, including the lower cheek, the lower side of the tail and the inner surfaces of the limbs, it is generally wholly white, and sharply contrasted with the tint of the upper side and outside of the limbs, though the paws may be paler than the rest of the limbs ; there is a white patch on the otherwise black back of the ear, but there is no white patch over the eye as in the tiger. The pattern is very different from that of the tiger, but not unlike the pattern of some lion-cubs. Itconsists of solid black spots on the head, sometimes for a short distance behind it, on the outer side of the limbs and on the belly, which is typically heavily spotted, but elsewhere on the body the pattern mostly consists of definite " rosettes " which appear to result from the coalescence of some four or five smallish solid spots to form definite but irregularly shaped rings surrounding an area of darker tint as a rule, especially low down on the sides, than the brighter tint of the interspaces between the spots. The rosettes vary considerably in size and spacing, and on the spine, especially over the hind back and loins, they are usually more elongated and show a tendency to run in longitudinal stripe-like lines. On the tail the pattern is less regular and less rosette-like, the individual rosettes being liable to coalesce more or less towards the end above, whereas the underside here may be almost wholly unspotted, so that. when upturned it looks white. The normal pattern of leopards, above described, with its suggestion here and there of longitudinally lineal arrangement, is much more primitive than the highly specialized transverse stripes of the tiger. On account of its extensive distribution and capacity for adaptation to widely different environments the leopard varies locally in coloration much more than the lion or tiger, and many geographical races or subspecies of it have been described. Those admitted in the Indian fauna are considered below. But the species is also susceptible to an unusual amount of individual variation in colour and pattern in the same locality. These variations are termed " varieties " or " spots." The " black " variety is the commonest of them. In this type the blackness is due to the deposit of black or dark brown pigment in the hairs that are normally yellow or white, so that the spots are obscured although probably always visible in certain lights and generally at least better defined on the underside because the normally white hair is browner than the normally yellow hair of the upper side. Leopards sometimes also exhibit the opposite phenomenon, namely, failure to develop pigment in the normally pigmented areas. This may result in complete albinism, when the pattern as well as the interspaces are white.

It does not confine itself to the forests, but prowls among villages, carrying off sheep, goats, dogs, and sometimes commits great depredations. It is very fearless, frequently seizing a dog in the middle of a village, whilst the inhabitants are still stirring. It always seizes its prey by the back of the neck or the throat. It is a particularly silent creature, very stealthy, and will contrive to dodge and hide itself in places where it would appear impossible that a creature of its size could find concealment. They are popularly said to be much in the habit of climbing trees. They are fearful of water, and will not readily swim, and are therefore rarely found on small islands. Like the Tiger, the Leopard will, if hungry, eat any dead carcass he can find. Leopards occasionally take to man-eating and, owing to their boldness, become even a more fearful scourge than tigers.

Large leopards, or panthers as Jerdon calls them, often kill cattle, ponies, donkeys, and large deer such as sambar, but the smaller varieties have to content themselves with inferior prey. The leopard, however, is absolutely without prejudice in the matter of food all beasts, birds, and, I believe, reptiles that are not too large to kill or too small to catch are the same to him ; he will strike down an ox or bound upon a sparrow. If he has a predilection, it is probably for dogs and jackals. He is a terrible foe to monkeys, and kills many of the hanumans or langurs who inhabit the rocky hills in which he delights. Leopards, like tigers, sometimes kill their prey by breaking the neck ; but I am disposed to believe that they frequently either tear open the throat or hold it in Iheir jaws and strangle their victim. However, I have not had many opportunities of seeing animals killed by them. They carry away the body like tigers, and hide what they do not eat, very often in a tree. (Blanford, 1888).

Seen in deciduous and evergreen forests, scrub jungle, open country and fringes of human habitation

IUCN redlist Status: Near Threatened CITES Appendix - I

Red List Category & Criteria: Near Threatened ver 3.1 Year Published: 2008

IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened

Persecution, poaching, conflict.

Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, Schedule - I