Leopards are felines, which, although they do not reach the size and weight of their relatives, such as lions and tigers, are also amazing and undoubtedly beautiful animals. The species is identified as Panthera pardus, and there are several subspecies or types, distinguished by certain anatomical features and by living in different habitats. One of the subspecies is commonly called African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus), and in this tab on our site we bring you information about this feline. We invite you to continue reading and learn all about its characteristics, customs and food, among other things.
Characteristics of the African leopard
The African leopard is a beautiful feline, and its main characteristics are as follows:
- There is a marked sexual dimorphism: males are larger and heavier than females.
- His weight varies: a male, on average, weighs around 60 kg, and does not exceed 90 kg. While the females have an average of about 38 kg. The sizes and colors of the African leopard also vary, they vary from one region to another within the same continent, because the subspecies adapts to particular habitats.
- They have three colors for the background of the coat: it can be bright yellow, pale or even slightly reddish.
- Leopards are distinguished by a body pattern formed by black rosettes: which on the head and limbs are solid, but on the rest of the body surround a spot of a more intense color than the background yellow.
- Presentan Different rosettes depending on the area they inhabit: for example, of this subspecies they are rounded in those that inhabit West Africa and more square in the south.
- Have a unique body pattern: changes from one individual to another.
- They can suffer from melanism: which is a recessive mutation that pigments the entire body with a dark coloration. What is melanism in animals? Find out the answer in the following article on our site.
- They have short legs: in relation to the size of the body they are short.
- They have a broad head and large skull: which allows for a quite developed and powerful jaw, giving it an impressive bite.
- They present long whiskers around their snout: these same hairs also form the eyebrows, which provide protection.
African leopard habitat
The African leopard was well spread throughout various regions of the continent, however, over time and due to human actions, this distribution has been highly affectedIn this sense, in North Africa, this feline was reduced to 97% of its original presence. Some of the areas where it is or was previously located are: Elba, southeastern Egypt, Sinai, Algeria, and Morocco.
- In West Africa has been developed in: Niger, Senegal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Ghana, among other areas. As for the central zone of Africa, we can mention the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Gabon and the Central African Republic.
- In East Africa, the leopard has developed in: Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Finally, in the south, the areas correspond to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and the Cape of South Africa.
As for the types of ecosystems, the leopard is a feline that develops in a variety of habitats, thus, it may be in desert, semi-desert, savannah, forests and African tropical jungles.
African Leopard Customs
The African leopard is a fundamentally solitary animal, except for females with young and during breeding season. The greatest activity of solitary individuals occurs at dawn and when the sun sets. One of its particular behaviors is its marked territoriality, for which it leaves traces of feces, urine and scratches with its claws to indicate its presence in a certain area.
He can be a good runner, making big jumps of up to about 6 meters horizontally and 3 meters vertically; besides he is a good swimmer. When he is upset he may roar or growl, while when he wants to engage in friendly behaviors he will purr
Males tend to establish larger home ranges than females. In fact, they may first allow several of them to overlap their territories. Males tend to avoid each other and, in addition to the aforementioned markings, make a hoarse cough-like sound to communicate their presence in the area. When another male hears him, he does a similar one and walks away.
African leopard feeding
The African leopard, like all of the species, is an active predator, making it a carnivorous animal. To hunt, it stalks its prey ste althily and approaches it by walking as close to the ground as possible, using its fur to help it camouflage. Once he's close, he makes a big jump and grabs the victim.
Its diet is very varied, and can consume anything from small animals to much larger and heavier ones. The prey they consume depend mainly on the availability in the habitat, and among these we can mention:
- Antelopes
- Hares
- Boars
- Jackals
- Ñus
- Guinea fowl
- Macaques
- Gorillas
- Porcupines
You may be interested in the following article on Predatory animals: meaning, types and examples.
African leopard reproduction
Reproductive behavior is generally similar across leopard types, with both males and females having multiple mates throughout their lives. Reproduction can occur throughout the year, but may have peaks in the rainy months.
When the female goes into heat, which lasts about 7 days and occurs every 46. She is the one who courts the male, walked close to it and showing its disposition. In addition, she has previously left urine marks with pheromones, which let the male know about the stage of heat. For about a week, the couple will copulate several times a day, before starting the pregnancy, which lasts a little over 3 months.
Subsequently, 2 offspring are born on average, which depend entirely on the mother's care. They begin to walk at 2 weeks of age, and begin explorations outside the den between 6 and 8 weeks of age. Weaning occurs at 3 months and the young become independent when they are about 20 months old.
Conservation status of the African leopard
The species is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in the vulnerable category, although some subspecies have a different category. In the case of the African leopard, no other classification is reported, but the population decline on the continent is alerted. In addition, it is included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The causes of impact correspond to direct hunting, prey decreaseessential for feeding the leopard and habitat alteration , all undoubtedly vital aspects for the maintenance of this feline.
