Snow Leopard
Panthera Uncia
Classification
Domain: Eukarya
This Domain includes
- single-celled or multi-cellular organisms
- they have a nucleus.
- There are 3 Domians
Kingdom Animalia
All animals in Kingdom Animalia are,
- Multicellular
- Heterotrophs
- The Bodies of most animals are made up of cells organized into tissue
Phylum: Chordata
All animals in Phylum Chordata have,
- Bilateral symmetry
- Complete digestive system
- 3 Germ layers
Subphylum: Vertabrata
- All animals in Subphylum Vertabrata have,
- All have vertebral column, or a chain of bony elements (vertebrae)movements provided by muscles attached to endoskeleton
- ventral heart with 2-4 chambers
Class: Mammalia
- All mammals share at least three characteristics not found in other animals: 3 middle ear bones, hair, and the production of milk by modified sweat glands called mammary glands.
- smaller mammals live short lives and larger mammals live longer lives.Mammalian lifespans range from one year or less to 70 or more years in the wild
- All mammals have hair at some point during their development, and most mammals have hair their entire lives.
Order: Carnivora
- All mammals have hair at some point during their development, and most mammals have hair their entire lives.
- Carnivores tend to be medium-sized animals; too small and they couldn't find enough within their capacity to kill; too large and they wouldn't be able to satisfy their appetites.
- Carnivores are relatively long-lived mammals, with most species living at least a decade.
Genus
- snow leopard
Species
- snow leopard
General Description
- Height: About 2 feet (.6m) at shoulders.
- Weight: Weight: 77-120 lbs (35-55 kg).
- Length: Length: 6-7.5 feet (1.8-2.3m) (includes 40-inch (1m) tail length).
- Color:The base fur color can range anywhere from light gray to smoke gray to cream-yellow. It is also covered in Rosettes. Rosettes are larger rings encircling smaller spots and are only found on the body and tail
- Habitat: Rocky and cold areas in Bhutan, Nepal and the Siberian region of Russia. They like to be on high grounds such as mountains
- Diet: They hunt sheep and goats but also hunt rodents, hares, and birds. The primary prey species of snow leopards are blue sheep
- Predators: Snow Leopards are top predators. Their biggest predator is the human. Snow Leopard can kill each other.
The Habitat
The Snow Leopard in its natural home.
The Snow Leopard
The Snow Leopard up close.
The Map
Where Snow Leopards live.
Physical Adaptations
Its thick fur helps it survive through the harsh cold winter storms.The pale coat helps the snow leopard blend in with snow and other rocks.Snow leopards have long and thick coats that molt twice per year, yielding a longer and thicker coat during the winter.In addition to thick fur, they have small rounded ears that help to minimize heat loss in their cold, mountainous environment.
Behavioral Adaptations
All snow leopards use ambush as their attack. They wait until their prey gets close enough and then they strike. Snow Leopards compete with each other for food, females, and other things too. Snow Leopards \ are shy and elusive in their remote habitat, and they are known for their solitary nature. They are most active at dawn and dusk (called crepuscular), but may remain active during daytime hours if they are in an area with few to no humans present. If human settlements are close, the leopards switch more to a nocturnal activity pattern to avoid contact.
References
References
Burton, M. (2002). Snow leopard. In International wildlife encyclopedia (3rd ed., Vol. 17, pp. 2432-2434). New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish.
Montsion, L. (2014, September 9). Uncia uncia snow leopard. Retrieved March 11, 2015, from Animal Diversity Web website: http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Uncia_uncia/
Snow leopard. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2015, from Chicago Zoological Society's
Brookfield zoo website: http://www.czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Zoo-Animals/Big-Cats/Snow-Leopard
Snow leopard. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2015, from International society for endangered cats website: http://www.wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/eurasia/snow-leopard/