Difference between revisions of "Leopard"
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| − | The ''' | + | {{Taxonomy |
| − | It is sometimes referred to as the panther, especially rare [[melanism|melanistic]] black leopards (which are also spotted, but black-on-black so that the spots are not readily apparent). | + | |name=Leopard |
| + | |image=Leopard.jpg | ||
| + | |caption= | ||
| + | |superkingdom= | ||
| + | |kingdom=Animalia | ||
| + | |subkingdom= | ||
| + | |superphylum= | ||
| + | |phylum=Chordata | ||
| + | |subphylum= | ||
| + | |infraphylum= | ||
| + | |microphylum= | ||
| + | |superdivision= | ||
| + | |division= | ||
| + | |subdivision= | ||
| + | |superclass= | ||
| + | |class=Mammalia | ||
| + | |subclass= | ||
| + | |infraclass= | ||
| + | |superorder= | ||
| + | |order=Carnivora | ||
| + | |suborder= | ||
| + | |infraorder= | ||
| + | |superfamily= | ||
| + | |families= | ||
| + | |family=Felidae | ||
| + | |subfamily= | ||
| + | |supertribe= | ||
| + | |tribe= | ||
| + | |subtribe= | ||
| + | |genera= | ||
| + | |genus= Panthera | ||
| + | |subgenus= | ||
| + | |species=P. pardus | ||
| + | |binomialname= | ||
| + | |syn= | ||
| + | |sub=P. p. pardus<br/>P. p. orientalis<br/>P. p. nimr<br/>P. p. fusca<br/>P. p. delacouri<br/>P. p. melas<br/>P. p. japonensis<br/>P. p. saxicolor<br/>P. p. kotiya | ||
| + | |alt= | ||
| + | |regionimg= | ||
| + | |pop= | ||
| + | |conservation=Near-threatened | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | The '''leopard''' is a large spotted [[feline]], widely distributed throughout [[Africa]] and [[Asia]]. | ||
| + | It is sometimes referred to as the panther, especially in rare [[melanism|melanistic]] black leopards (which are also spotted, but black-on-black so that the spots are not readily apparent). | ||
| − | The three lions on the royal | + | The three lions on the royal arms of [[England]] and [[Britain]] (and on the badge of the England football team) are known in heraldic terms as 'leopards'. The heraldic 'leopard' is a 'lion passant gardant'; a lion walking to the viewer's left and looking at the viewer.<ref>[http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/heraldry_l.aspx Burke's Peerage]</ref><ref>[http://www.heraldryclipart.com/dl.html Armorial Gold Heraldic Dictionary]</ref><ref>[http://www.royal.gov.uk/files/images/MTnew_ceremsym_symbols_armsi.jpg Arms of Britain]</ref> |
== Habits == | == Habits == | ||
| − | Leopards are solitary predators. They habitually climb trees | + | Leopards are solitary predators. They habitually climb trees and commonly store their prey in a forked branch, just out of reach of competitive predators like hyenas. |
Leopards are prone to attacking and eating domestic [[dog]]s. | Leopards are prone to attacking and eating domestic [[dog]]s. | ||
| Line 12: | Line 54: | ||
== Man-eating leopards == | == Man-eating leopards == | ||
| − | Although man-eating leopards are much rarer than man-eating [[tiger]]s, the Panar leopard claimed over 400 victims and the Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag managed to eat at least 125 [[India]]n [[pilgrimage|pilgrims]] before | + | Although man-eating leopards are much rarer than man-eating [[tiger]]s, the Panar leopard claimed over 400 victims, and the Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag managed to eat at least 125 [[India]]n [[pilgrimage|pilgrims]] before it was shot by [[Jim Corbett]]. |
== Biblical references == | == Biblical references == | ||
| − | Leopards historically occurred naturally in [[Palestine]] (where | + | Leopards historically occurred naturally in [[Palestine]] (where they are now either extinct or extremely rare) and are mentioned several times in the [[Bible]], including: |
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
| Line 25: | Line 67: | ||
''And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.'' Revelations 13:2 | ''And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.'' Revelations 13:2 | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Leopards in popular culture == | ||
| + | ''[[The Jungle Book]]'' by Rudyard Kipling features a major character named Bagheera, a black Indian leopard who mentors Mowgli and is one of his friends. He is well known as a powerful hunter, as bold as a buffalo and as reckless as an elephant, as described, and he is one of the most feared animals in the jungle, just after Shere Khan, the tiger. "Mowgli's Brothers" reveals that Bagheera was born in captivity in a king's palace, but after his mother died, he broke out of his cage and escaped into the wild, where he became a feared predator. The Disney movies - both 1967 and 2016 - portray him as a sterner character, yet just as devoted to Mowgli's safety and well-being. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The ''Warriors'' book series does not feature leopards in the main story, but cats regard leopards with reverence as they believe that they have inherited their hunting skills. One story tells of a leopardess winning her Clan's hunting rights to the river by killing two wild boars that were attacking the big cat Clans. Cats are even sometimes named after them, like Leopardfur. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[The Leopard]] — a historical novel by [[Giuseppe di Lampedusa]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == References == | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
{{Nb_zl_felines}} | {{Nb_zl_felines}} | ||
| + | |||
[[Category:Felines]] | [[Category:Felines]] | ||
| − | [[Category:Biblical | + | [[Category:Biblical Animals]] |
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Animals]] |
| + | [[Category:Asia]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Africa]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Mammals]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:07, September 6, 2026
The leopard is a large spotted feline, widely distributed throughout Africa and Asia. It is sometimes referred to as the panther, especially in rare melanistic black leopards (which are also spotted, but black-on-black so that the spots are not readily apparent).
| Leopard | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class Information | |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Felidae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Panthera |
| Species Information | |
| Species | P. pardus |
| Subspecies | P. p. pardus P. p. orientalis P. p. nimr P. p. fusca P. p. delacouri P. p. melas P. p. japonensis P. p. saxicolor P. p. kotiya |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Near-threatened |
The three lions on the royal arms of England and Britain (and on the badge of the England football team) are known in heraldic terms as 'leopards'. The heraldic 'leopard' is a 'lion passant gardant'; a lion walking to the viewer's left and looking at the viewer.[1][2][3]
Habits
Leopards are solitary predators. They habitually climb trees and commonly store their prey in a forked branch, just out of reach of competitive predators like hyenas.
Leopards are prone to attacking and eating domestic dogs.
Man-eating leopards
Although man-eating leopards are much rarer than man-eating tigers, the Panar leopard claimed over 400 victims, and the Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag managed to eat at least 125 Indian pilgrims before it was shot by Jim Corbett.
Biblical references
Leopards historically occurred naturally in Palestine (where they are now either extinct or extremely rare) and are mentioned several times in the Bible, including:
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Jeremiah 13:23
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. Revelations 13:2
Leopards in popular culture
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling features a major character named Bagheera, a black Indian leopard who mentors Mowgli and is one of his friends. He is well known as a powerful hunter, as bold as a buffalo and as reckless as an elephant, as described, and he is one of the most feared animals in the jungle, just after Shere Khan, the tiger. "Mowgli's Brothers" reveals that Bagheera was born in captivity in a king's palace, but after his mother died, he broke out of his cage and escaped into the wild, where he became a feared predator. The Disney movies - both 1967 and 2016 - portray him as a sterner character, yet just as devoted to Mowgli's safety and well-being.
The Warriors book series does not feature leopards in the main story, but cats regard leopards with reverence as they believe that they have inherited their hunting skills. One story tells of a leopardess winning her Clan's hunting rights to the river by killing two wild boars that were attacking the big cat Clans. Cats are even sometimes named after them, like Leopardfur.
See also
- The Leopard â a historical novel by Giuseppe di Lampedusa.
