Clouded Leopard
Classification
By wikipedia http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/
commons/7/7d/Neofelis_nebulosa.jpg
Closest Relative:
The Clouded Leopard’s closest
relative is the Bornean Clouded Leopard,
which is also in the Neofelis genus. Both
of these cats have a distinctively different
skull structure from other big cats. Just
like the clouded leopard, its coat has dark-
edged almost cloud-like shapes.
Location on Earth:
The Clouded Leopard is found only in
Southeast Asia and ranges through
southern China, the eastern Himalayas,
northeast India, and southeast Asia.
Because the last time a clouded leopard
was seen in Taiwan was 1989, it is thought
to be extinct there.
Habitat:
The preferred habitat of the Clouded
Leopard are tropical and subtropical
forests at altitudes up to about 6,500 ft. A
clouded leopard lives in temperatures of 65
to 120 degrees. These cats can also be
found in mangrove swamps and grasslands.
Routines or Niche:
Because the Clouded Leopard is such
a secretive animal, their behavior in the
wild is almost completely unknown.
Experts do know that Clouded Leopards
are very agile tree dwellers. Unlike lions,
these cats are generally solitary and do not
travel in prides, mainly interacting with
other Clouded Leopards only to reproduce
and care for young. At one time they were
thought to only be active at night, but that
has since been corrected, Clouded
Leopards are active in the day also. When
hunting, Clouded Leopards have been
observed in captivity and prefer to attack
their prey from jumping out of the trees.
Interesting Information:
The Clouded Leopard is so secretive
that there is no sure estimate of their
population.
Place in Food Chain:
The Clouded Leopard is a carnivore.
It eats other animals, such as deer, birds,
bearded pigs, monkeys, gibbons, squirrels,
porcupines, fish, domestic cattle, and
domestic chickens. All of its prey are
secondary and primary consumers, while
the clouded leopard is a third level
consumer.
Adaptations:
The Clouded Leopard has the longest
canine teeth of any feline. This is thought
to be because of the animals that they fed
off of large land-dwelling mammals. The
cat's legs are short and flexible, with large
feet and keen claws to allow it to climb
trees, where some of its prey lives. Also to
help the leopard climb, it has a tail as long
as its body to maintain balance.
Reproduction:
Clouded Leopards, like all cats
reproduce sexually and have internal
fertilization. After a period of about 85 to
93 days a female will give birth to a litter
of anywhere from one to five cubs. At
birth a cub has solid spots, rather than
spots with dark rings. Cubs are also blind
for about ten days, and after about five
weeks they are able to become active.
Reasons for Endangerment:
The number of Clouded Leopards is
10,000 and declining, according to the
World Conservation Union. Because the
Clouded Leopard's habitat are forests,
most of their habitats have been torn
down, or will be if they haven’t been
already. It is also found that the Clouded
Leopard is hunted for its use in Chinese
medicinal preparations, also declining the
population.
Phyla: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Neofelis
Species: N. nebulosa
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Chordata: A group of animals that
include the vertebrates. They all have
pharyngeal slits (used by organisms in
feeding), and a post-anal tail.
Mammalia: Vertebrate animals that
have mammary glands (produce milk for
young), sweat glands, hair, three middle
ear bones (used for hearing), and a
neocortex in the brain. Most mammals
give birth to their young. Mammals are
warm-blooded and their brains regulate
endothermic and circulatory systems
with a four-chambered heart.
Carnivora: Carnivores are meat-eating
animals. Felidae: Felidae is the
biological family of cats. These cats are
called Felids. Felids are strictly
carnivores. Pantherinae: A subfamily of
Felidae. Neofelis: Compared to other
big cats, this genus has a distinct
difference in skull structure. "Neo"
means new, "felis" means small cat. The
name is fitting because it was a new type
of small cat to scientists.
Laws protecting species
The World Conservation Union has the Clouded
Leopard on its global Red List of endangered
species, listing it as endangered.
The CITES or Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora puts the Clouded Leopard under the
Appendix l species, which bans international
trade of the animal.
The United States lists the Clouded Leopard
under the Endangered-Species Act, which bans
trade of the animal or any parts used in products
made from them.
References:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Clouded_Leopard