Clouded Leopard Clouded Leopard
A clouded leopard is a wild cat.
The marks on its fur look like clouds.
It has a long tail.
Clouded leopards are very good climbers.
To which animal group does the clouded leopard belong?
The clouded leopard is classified as a big cat because it behaves and looks like other big cats, but it is more closely related to the lynx.
Appearance
The clouded leopard has a different skull shape from other members of the cat family, so it is in a group of its own.
The clouded leopard has a body that is about 1 metre long plus a 90 centimetre tail. It weighs up to 23 kilograms.
The skulls of clouded leopards are a different shape to that of other cats... photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation
Its fur is grey to yellowish-brown and it has black spots and dashes on its head, legs and tail. The marks on its side look similar to clouds, which gives the animal its name.
Habitat and distribution (where it is found)
The animal lives in thick forests in high mountains of Thailand, China, India and Vietnam. The markings of its fur give the animal good camouflage in this habitat because of the deep shade and dappled light under the thick trees. Like other leopards, clouded leopards climb trees very well.
Diet and hunting
The clouded leopard eats birds, monkeys, deer and goats. It chases its prey, jumps on it and bites its throat until the animal suffocates. The clouded leopard has the longest canine teeth of any cat, in proportion to its size.
photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation
Life Cycle
Clouded leopards
live alone but males and females hunt together after mating. Two
to four young are born about 100 days after mating takes place.
photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation
Conservation Status
The clouded leopard is now endangered.
It has been hunted for food and for its beautiful fur. Its forest habitat is being cut down.
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Click here to find out more about clouded leopards http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/clouded_leopard.php Watch a video of clouded leopards and cubs here: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/kids/animals-pets-kids/mammals-kids/leopard-clouded-kids.html |
If you use any of this in your own work, acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
Sydenham, S. & Thomas, R. Clouded Leopard [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2001).
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updated September 2011 © kidcyber
Clouded leopards are excellent climbers and spend a lot of time in trees. They can hang by front or back legs from branches.