Uncia uncia
Snow leopards are found in the mountainous areas of Central Asia. Unlike many other large cats, snow leopards do not roar. Although the Snow leopard shares its common name with the African leopard, it is not thought to be closely related to the latter (Snow leopards belong to genus Uncia, African leopards to genus Panthera). Its long tail, which can measure as much as 0.9 m, helps the cat balance as it moves over rugged and often snowy terrain.
Above picture taken in Cincinnati zoo, May 2001. The picture that follows is from Louisville zoo, also May 2001.
Family Felidae
Superfamily Feloidea
Order Carnivora
Subclass Eutheria
Class Mammalia
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
Index