Neofelis nebulosa (Cloded Leopard)
Adult Clouded Leopard
Description: Long, strong body with a long, thick tail and short head. They have rounded ears and distinctive facial spotting.
Coat: Ochreaceous to tawny or silver grey, black and whitish individuals have been reported. The coat is covers with large 'cloud shaped' ellipses that are strongly outlined in black, with solid black ovals and other spots along the limbs and belly. The back of the neck is conspicuosly marked with two thick black bars, the tail is encircled with black rings. The skin is pink and the chin and cheeks white as are the whiskers. The back of the ears are blck and the eyes are grey green.
Adult Clouded Leopard
Size: Head and body length 60-110cm, tail length 60-90cm, shoulder height 80cm.
Weight: 11-20kg.
Senses: They are excellent climbers and can descend trees head first at speed and traverse branches hanging upsde down, they have even been seen hanging by their hind paws using their tail to balance them.
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical primary and secondary evergreen forests up to altitudes of 2,000m, also in scrub forest, tall grassland and mangroves.
Range: Tends not to leave markers, such as scats and scrapes along trails and is hard to track.
Depending on the area, they hold home ranges of between 4-14km (2.5-9mi).
Distribution: India, S China, Nepal, Burma, Indochina to Sumatra and Borneo, possibly Taiwan but is probably extinct here.
Status: Deforestation and hunting for their pelts, bones and long canines are the two main threats to the species. The teeth are bought for medicinal, decorative and cerimonial purposes.
Daily Rhythm: Secretive aniamls that are said to be strictly nocturnal. They rest in trees through the day.
Voice:
Enemies:
Prey: Monkeys, such as Proboscis, Pig-tailed Macaques and Gibbons, other prey includes birds, small mammals, porcupines, deer and wild boar. They will also take domestic animals.
Food and Feeding:
Grouping: Probably solitary most of the year.
Breeding: In captivity males often killed their female parteners and this was resolved by pairing the aniamls at an early age.
Gestation: 87-102 days.
Litter Size: 1-4.
Young Description: The young are born blind and helpless.
Nest:
Young Care: The young are quite active at 5 weeks and achive independance at about 9 months,
Sexual Maturity:
Longevity: Up to 17 years in captivity.
Geographical Variations:
Neofelis nebulosa brachyurus (Formosan Clouded Leopard)
Distribution: Taiwan.
Description: tail not as long as nominate race.
Neofelis nebulosa nebulosa
Distribution:
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