THE LEOPARD IS A CAT THAT IS SPREAD THROUGH OUT AFRICA AND ASIA. A LEOPARD CAN GROW TO 9.3 ft. INCLUDING THE TAIL. SIMILAR TO THE JAGUAR, IT'S FUR COAT ALSO VARIES FROM YELLOW TO A RUSTY RED BUT, A LESS OCCASIONAL BLACK. THEIR SPOT FORMATION CONSISTS OF BROKEN RINGED SPOTS INSTEAD OF FULL ONES LIKE THE JAGUAR.

UNLIKE OTHER BIG CATS, THE LEOPARD SOMETIMES LIES IN WAIT IN A TREE FOR IT'S UNEXPECTING PREY AND THEN POUNCES ON IT AND THEN DRAGS IT UP THE TREE OUT OF THE REACH OF SCAVENGERS. IT MAY ALSO HUNT IN THE TREE FOR MONKEYS OR WHAT NOT SO IT WON'T HAVE TO DRAG IT'S PREY ANYWHERE. IT MAY ALSO EAT WHATEVER FRUIT IT CAN FIND.

LIKE MOST BIG CATS, THE LEOPARD FEMALE HAS HER YOUNG IN THE AVG. TIME OF 93 TO 100 DAYS. THE LEOPARD CAN REAR UP TO 6 CUBS.

THE CHEETAH HAS BEEN GIVEN THE NAME: THE HUNTING LEOPARD. BUT THE CHEETAH IS NOT A TRUE ONE.

CLASSIFICATION

LEOPARD: PANTHERA PARDUS