The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is an endangered big cat native to the rugged mountains of Central Asia, with an estimated population of only 3,920 to 6,390 remaining in the wild. These solitary and elusive animals are adapted to cold environments, possessing physical features like thick fur, large paws for snow navigation, and powerful limbs for jumping. Their ecological role includes controlling prey populations, while their habitats also provide vital resources for local communities.

1. SNOW LEOPARD
(PANTHERA UNCIA)

2. General introduction about snow leopard.
Scientific name and origin.
Scientific classification.
Physical features.
Morphological features.
Habit and habitat.
Behavior.
Life cycle.
Prey.
Economic importance.
SYNOPSIS

3. o Snow leopard known throughtout the world for its beautiful fur
and elusive behavior, the endangered snow leopard () is found in
the rugged mountains of central asia.
o They are perfectly adapted to the cold, bareen landscape of
their high altitude home, but human threats have created an
uncertain future for the cats.
o Scientist estimate that there may only be between 3920-6390
snow leopard left in the wild.

4.  SCIENTIFIC NAME
AND ORIGIN
 PANTHERA UNCIA ( Previously –
uncia uncia) .
The genus name, uncia is derived
from the old french word ‘once’,
which was originally used for the
european lynx.
The snow leopard is occasionally
called ounce.
 SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION
*KINGDOM  ANIMALIA
*PHYLUM  CHORDATA
*CLASS  MAMMALIA
*ORDER  CARNIVORA
*SUB-ORDER  FELIFORMIA
*FAMILY  FELIDAE
*SUB-FAMILY PANTHERINAE
*GENUS  PANTHERA
*SPECIES  UNCIA

5. • Height 55-65cm ( 22-26 inches).
• Length 90-115cm ( 36-44 inches).
• Weight 22-55 kg.
• Tail 100cm ( 40 inches).
1. The snow leopard has soft, dense fur that grows extra-thick
during the winter to keep the cat’s body warm.
2. Fur is whitish to gray with black spots on head & neck.
*

6. 3. Its round, short ears reduce heat loss, and the wide short
nasal cavity warms the air before it reaches the cat’s lungs.
4. The cat has strong short front limbs and longer hind limbs.
They help launch the cat up to 30 feet (10 meters) in one leap.
5. Its extra long tail helps the cat keep its balance and provides
extra warmth when its wrapped around the body.
6. Its extra large paws keep the cat from shinking into the
snow-like a pair of natural snow shoes.
7. The snow leopard sports excellent camouflage thanks to its
grey-white fur with its dark spot & rosettes.

8. The snow leopard can’t roar,despite possessing partial
ossification of the hyoid bone.
The partial ossification was previously thought to be
essential for allowing the big cats to roar, but new
studies show that the ability to roar, is due to other
morphological feature especially of the larynx, which
are absent in the snow leopard.
The snow leopard vocalization include hisses, chuffing,
mews, growls and wailing.
*

9. 1. Snow leopard live in the mountains of central asia, while
their habitat range cover 2million km2.
2. The snow leopard’s habitat extends through twelve
countries Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakistan,
Kyrgystan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan &
Uzbekistan.
3. China is one of the most influential countries for our
conservation efforts, as it contain as much as 60% of all
snows leopard habitat areas.
4. In the himalayas, snow leopard are usually found b/w 3000-
5400 meters above sea level. In mongolia & russia there
cats are found at lower altitude of 1000 meters.
5. The snow leopard prefer the broken terrain of cliffs, rocky
outcrops, ravines
*

11.  Snow leopard are shy, elusive cats known for their solitary
nature.
 They regularly patrol home ranges that can cover hundreds
of square kilometers.
 Sometimes a male and female might be seen together
during mating season, or we might see a mother with her
young ones.
*

12.  Once the cubs are about 2 years old, they begin to
disperse from their mother and set out on their own.
 In order to communicate snow leopard leave
marking on the landscape that others cats will find.
They scrap the ground with their hind legs and spray
urine against rocks to mark their territory or locate
mates.
 They are not aggressive towards humans.

13. Mating season for snow leopard is between january &
mid march.
The female is typically pregnant for a 93-110 days
before retiring to a sheltered den site and giving birth to
her cubs in june or july.
Cubs are small and helpless when they are born, and do
not open their eyes, until they are about 7 days old.
At 2 months old, they are ready to eat solid food.
At 3 months old, they begin following their mother &
start to learn behavior & hunting.
At 18-22 moths old, cubs become independent of their
mother.
*

14. Female snow leopard are ready to have their own cubs
by age of 2 or 3.
Male snow leopard turn sexually mature by age 4.
The snow leopard are known to live for as long as 22
years.
PREY
The three most important prey species are THE BLUE
SHEEP( BHARAL),THE ASIATIC IBEX( WILD GOAT), THE
ARGALI(WILD SHEEP).
Snow leopard hunt a large animal every 8-10 days on
avaerage.

15. • As the top predator in the high mountains of inner
asia, the snow leopards plays on important ecological
role on controlling the populations & health of the
wild ungulate species it prey on.
• Snow leopard habitat provides important resources for
local communities from food and medicine to grazing
for livestocks, and wood for shelter, heat & fuel, as
well as water sorce for millions of people
downstream.
*