Leopards (Panthera pardus) are beautiful mammals native to Africa and Asia, of which eight subspecies have been identified. They are animals characterized by being excellent predators, with typical feline agility and, although they are not the largest of the group, they never cease to amaze with their hunting capabilities. Within the subspecies, we find the Arabian leopard (P.p. nimr), about which we present this file of our site. We invite you to continue reading to learn about the main characteristics of the Arabian leopard, its habitat and state of conservation.
Characteristics of the Arabian Leopard
The different types of leopards have certain common features, however, in some cases, as in this subspecies, there are distinctive aspects that allow us to differentiate them from one another. Let us know below the characteristics of the Arabian leopard:
- There is sexual dimorphism, as males are larger and heavier than females. Thus, the former have lengths of between 1.80 and 2 meters, and average weights of 30 kg approximately, while the latter range from 1.60 to 1, 90 meters and masses of around 20 kg.
- The Arabian leopard is characterized as the smallest subspecies among the group, however, it is the largest feline in the entire the Arabian Peninsula.
- The coloration of the coat is yellow and can vary between different shades such as pale, intense, reddish or greyish.
- It has the pattern of black rosettes characteristic of the species.
- As generally occurs with this type of animal, their legs are short in relation to their long body.
- The head is broad, with a large skull and powerful jaws.
- His ears are rounded.
- It has mustaches with long white hair.
Arabian leopard habitat
The Arabian leopard lives mainly in the Dhofar area, southwestern Oman, on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as in the district of Hawf, located in the northeast of Yemen, in this case in the south of the peninsula. On the other hand, there are some small populations in Saudi Arabia, Judea of Israel and the Negev, although the most recent records have not confirmed their presence in these areas again.
This cat has also inhabited the Musandam Peninsula of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, although it is suspected to be extinct in these regions, as well as in Jordan and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula.
As regards the characteristics of the Arabian leopard's habitat, this subspecies has developed mainly in mountainous spaces, steppes, areas with abundant vegetation and, less frequently, towards lowlands, desert ecosystems, plains and coastal areas.
Customs of the Arabian Leopard
There is little information on the habits of the Arabian leopard, probably because it lives in remote areas that are difficult for people to access. It is mainly a solitary animal, with the exception of the reproductive seasons and the mothers when they take care of their young. Although it is of mainly nocturnal habits, it can also move during the day.
Commonly it has had a strong competition for prey with the caracal (Caracal caracal) and the Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs), however, given the strong pressure that this type of leopard has received, it has a great handicap that affects their survival. Its distribution range depends on the availability of prey and habitat conditions.
Arabian leopard feeding
The Arabian leopard, like all the others, is a predator, so it is a carnivore Its main prey is medium in size to small and depend mainly on the presence of the same in the area of distribution of the feline. In this sense, the feeding of the Arabian leopard can be constituted by:
- Gazelles
- Mountain Goats
- Hares
- Damanes
- Porcupines
- Desert hedgehogs
- Rodents
- Birds
- Insects
- Camels
- Livestock
- Donkeys
- Sheep
Don't miss this other article where we talk more in depth about What leopards eat.
Arabian leopard reproduction
As we have mentioned, studies of the behavior of the species are limited, which includes its reproductive mode. However, it must be similar to that of the species in general. Leopards usually have multiple mates throughout their reproductive stages. It is known that in some areas they have had mating moments around the month of March.
Females' gestation period lasts around 13 weeks and they have litters of 2 to 4 pupsThese puppies, at birth, totally depend on maternal care, since they are blind and cannot fend for themselves. After about a month, they begin to leave the cave or den where they were born, but they are not weaned until they are two months old and stay with their mother for about two years, which is when they become completely independent.
Conservation status of the Arabian leopard
The leopard in general is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in the category of vulnerable. However, it has made distinctions for some subspecies, such as the case of the Arabian leopard, which very unfortunately is considered critically endangered
The most recent report is from the year 2020, carried out by the IUCN, and indicates that there must be between 45 to 200 individuals, something of concern for a general population of a species. The threats that have caused such damage are related to direct hunting, related in turn to marketing as trophies, uses for supposed medicinal benefits and reprisals because leopards they can attack livestock when they do not find prey to feed on. The habitat fragmentation and the drastic decrease in natural prey have also influenced this situation.
Although they have not been enough, conservation measures include consideration of the leopard within Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as regulations hunting and the establishment of protected areas where this animal lives, although these represent a minimal percentage of the habitat in these countries.
