Photo: Bernard Landgraf (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Snow Leopard
Uncia uncia (Schreber, 1775)
Encyclopaedia
What is a snow leopard?
At a glance3
Fun facts8 facts
- 1
Snow leopards use their thick, fur-covered tail like a blanket, wrapping it over their face while they sleep.[1]
- 2
DNA evidence suggests the ancestors of snow leopards, leopards and lions interbred at some point in their evolutionary past.[1]
- 3
Snow leopards can chase prey down steep mountainsides for up to 300 m, using the momentum of their first leap.[1]
- 4
Snow leopards have fur on the undersides of their paws, which helps them grip steep, slippery rock and keeps their feet warm.[1]
- 5
Snow leopards have large nasal openings that warm up the cold, dry mountain air before it reaches their lungs.[1]
Sources1
- [1]Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
Snow leopard guides
Protecting and staying safe around a snow leopard
Not veterinary advice. General information about this animal. If you find one injured or in trouble, contact a wildlife rescue or the RSPCA rather than handling it yourself.
