Felines are fascinating animals, with often impressive abilities, where we find species from very powerful like lions and tigers to tender like domestic cats. They are all grouped in the family Felidae, which in turn is currently divided into two subfamilies, Pantherinae and Felinae. The first includes the Panthera pardus species, commonly known as the leopard, a fairly agile animal, an excellent hunter and with very well-developed senses.
Now then, how many types of leopards are there? Although its taxonomy is still being studied, eight subspecies of this beautiful animal are recognized, and in this article on our site we will talk about these types of leopards In general, the species it is classified as vulnerable, but there are subspecies with particular categories. We invite you to continue reading.
African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)
It is the nominal subspecies of the group, that is, was the first to be identified, so the third word of the name is a repeat of the second. As its name indicates, this type of leopard is typical of Africa, where it has a wide distribution, and is also one of the most studied. It is expected to be able to reaffirm that within Africa it would be the only type of leopard.
It has an obvious sexual dimorphism because males are larger than females. On average, they weigh 60 kg, but can reach up to 90 kg, while females are around 40 kg. As for the length, it is about 2, 30 meters. The coloration is yellowish, although it can have different tones and intensities, and they present the spots in the form of black rosettes typical of the species.
Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr)
The Arabian leopard is the smallest of all the subspecies, however, it is the largest cat in the entire Arabian Peninsula. Unfortunately, it is considered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) critically endangered
The body has the common rosettes of the species, but the yellow color can vary from light to intense. On average, this type of leopard measures 1.90 meters in the case of males, since females are smaller and measure 1.60 meters. The weight is 30 kg in males and 20 kg in females.
Persian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana)
This type of leopard is native to southwestern Asia and is considered the largest subspecies of all It is considered endangered by the IUCN of extinction. The taxonomic precisions are still under discussion, however, since 2017 the subspecies of leopard identified as P. p. ciscaucasica and P. p. saxicolor.
Its dimensions are around 2.5 meters from head to tail, and its height ranges from 0.45 to 0.80 meters. In terms of body mass, it can reach 75 kg.
Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca)
Distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent, but also found in Burma and parts of China. Males are around 1.30 to 1.40 m long, not including the tail, which is about 0.7 to 0.9 m. As for the weight, it varies from 50 to almost 80 kg. For their part, the females, which are smaller in size and weight, range from a little over a meter to around 1.20 m in length, with tails almost as long as the males, and average weights of 31.5 kg.
The yellow fur can vary depending on the region between light, brown or golden and even grayish. Although the rosettes are present and form unique patterns as in the other leopard subspecies, in this one they tend to be larger, a feature that sets them apart.
Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya)
The subspecies was considered endangered in 2008, however, in 2020 it has changed to vulnerable[1] Although the IUCN itself reports the serious problems faced by the population of this type of leopard, there are differences in the evaluations carried out, which establishes different criteria. However, permanent observation and monitoring is suggested.
Studies continue to define whether it should be kept as its own subspecies or joined with the Indian leopard (P. p. fusca). The coat tends to a reddish or copper-like yellow and the black rosettes are smaller than those of other types of leopards. On average, females measure 1.8 meters, including the tail, and weigh around 30 kg; the males, on the other hand, have an average length of 2 meters and a weight of 56 kg.
Indochinese leopard (Panthera pardus delacouri)
This subspecies, also known as Delacour's leopard, is found in Southeast Asia and southern China. A recent assessment [2] has classified it as critically endangered The coloration of the Base coat is rather reddish or rusty, but lightens towards the sides of the body. The pattern of the rosettes is united, which eventually gives the idea of large black spots, but they are really small ones that join together.
Sexual dimorphism is maintained, with males being larger than females. These weigh about 50 kg and measure 1.20 m on average. The females weigh around 25 kg and measure a little over a meter.
Java leopard (Panthera pardus melas)
This type of leopard is native to Indonesia, in Java. It has recently been classified by the IUCN [3] in danger of extinction. The coat coloration is golden, rarely light yellow, and has the black rosettes typical of the species. As for the weight and size of this leopard, there are no reliable and precise data in this regard, however, it has been identified as a small subspecies, probably a little larger than the Arabian leopard.
North China leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
It is also known as the Amur leopard and it has been considered that P.p. japonensis is a subspecies of this. Distribution includes the Russian Far East, the Korean Peninsula, and northeastern China. It has been considered critically endangered for years
Depending on the time of year, the coat varies from light or pale yellow to intense reddish, with the usual rosettes that in this case are more widely spaced. Males are larger and heavier than females. These measure around 2 meters and weigh from 30 to almost 50 kg. The females measure less than 2 meters and weigh from approximately 25 to 40 kg.
Black Leopards
They're not exactly a type of leopard. There are some cats that are known as black panthers, however, these really correspond with leopards and even jaguars (Panthera onca) that are totally black, although they also have the typical rosettes but not easily distinguished.
These individuals have been affected by a recessive genetic mutation that causes a condition known as melanism, since the production of the pigment Melanin increases considerably, and since it is responsible for giving color to the skin, in these cases it darkens the entire animal. This mutation is mainly expressed in subspecies that live in humid and wooded areas, which is an advantage for camouflage and thermoregulation
It has been identified that, although it may be present in several types of leopard, this phenotypic variation is more frequent in the Chinese and Javan subspecies, originating very peculiar individuals that continue to correspond to the same species.
On the other hand, many people believe that the European leopard exists, however, this is an extinct subspecies, so currently only the subspecies mentioned in the previous sections are alive. If you want to continue learning about these incredible animals, don't miss this other article: "Differences between cheetah and leopard".
