30/04/2024
Some facts about the Indian Leopard (Panthera Pardus Fusca).
a. The Indian leopard is a subspecies of the leopard. They are fast felines and can run at up to 58km/h! They're super springy too, and can leap 6 metres forward through the air and jump almost 3 metres high! Thanks to their curled tail which helps the leopard maintain balance and aids in steering the jump.
b. The smallest of the big cats. They are nocturnal animals that can see seven times better in the dark than humans.
c. Due to their resemblance to the shape of a rose, the spots of a leopard are called rosettes and each leopard has a unique rosette pattern. The Indian Leopard has larger rosettes than the other subspecies, with a paler coat in desert habitats, greyer in colder climes and more ochre in rainforest habitats.
d. A melanistic leopard, wherein the entire coat of the animal is black, is often called Black Panther. It is mistakenly thought to be a different species.
e. All feline tongues are covered with tiny barbs or hooks, giving it a rough texture. These microscopic projections face toward the cat's throat and are the tools that help to groom its coat. In the wild, these rasps tear the flesh off the bones of the big cat's prey!
