Results: Clouded Leopards

The clouded leopard is found from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Assam (eastern India) through Indochina to Sumatra and Borneo, and northeastward to southern China and formerly Taiwan. Although population numbers are thought to be lower outside protected areas, their populations are probably healthiest in Borneo because of the absence of tigers and leopards.

Clouded leopards prefer to live in lowland tropical rainforests. However, they can also be found in dry woodlands and secondary forests, and in Borneo, they are reported to live in mangrove swamps. They have even been spotted in the foothills of the Himalayas at an elevation of 9,000 feet (2,743 meters).

Due to its forest habitat, clouded leopards have large, dexterous paws with specialized footpads for gripping branches. Specialized anklebones allow varied position for climbing, including climbing headfirst down trees. Another distinctive feature of the clouded leopard is its long canine teeth. These canines are longer in proportion to skull size than those of any other species of wild cat.

While all species of cats are classified as one family, the Felidae, genetic research has shown the clouded leopard to be most closely related to the large cat species. Clouded leopards are not a "type" of leopard as their name implies. They are a separate species of wild cat, as are snow leopards and leopards. Recent research has proposed the clouded leopard branched from other members of the Pantherinae family first—over 6 million years ago—making them the most ancient feline species in the modern cat world.

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Males weigh up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms). Females are significantly smaller, usually 25 to 35 pounds (11 to 21 kilograms).

Due to a different bone structure in their neck, the clouded leopard cannot roar like the larger cats, but also cannot purr because it lacks the fully ossified hyoid bone that allows small cats this ability. Vocalizations include growling, hissing and chuffing.

Like all wild cats, clouded leopards are carnivores. Their chief prey are gibbons, macaques, slow loris, small deer and wild boars, which they ambush from the trees or stalk from the ground. They may also hunt birds and rodents.

Clouded leopards are thought to be primarily nocturnal. The average life span of the clouded leopard is 12 to 15 years, though they may live up to 17 years in human care.

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Clouded leopards are sexually mature around 2 years old. The gestation period is between 85 and 93 days with one to five cubs (usually two or three) produced per litter. Cubs' eyes open at 10 to 14 days. Teeth appear around three weeks. At 5 weeks, cubs leave the nest, and they are weaned at 90 to 100 days. Cubs are independent after 1.5 to 2 years. Females can produce a litter every year.

Today, clouded leopards are considered "vulnerable" under the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

There are 3 subspecies of clouded leopard. Neofelis nebulosa macrosceloides is found from India and Nepal in the west east to Myanmar. Neofelis nebulosa nebulosi is found from Myanmar in the east to China. Neofelis nebulosa brachyuran, which was found in Taiwan, is now thought to be extinct.

The clouded leopard gets its name from the large, cloud-like patterns on its pale yellow coat. It also has dark spots and lines on its face, legs and tail. The clouded leopard has a very long tail. In fact, it's longer than that of any other cat in relation to body size. The tail provides balance when the clouded leopard is climbing in the trees.

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