The Clouded Leopard

Scientific Name: Neofelis nebulosa
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Weight: 22-55 pounds

Description:

Clouded leopards are divided into two distinct subspecies, the Indochinese and Sunda. Clouded leopards have a long body, relatively short legs with large feet and a very long tail. The head is long and heavily built, similar in overall shape and proportions to the Panthera cats. Clouded Leopards have an exceptional ability to open their jaws nearly 90 degrees, compared to most cats at roughly 65 degrees, and elongated canine teeth measuring up to 2 inches in length. This gives the clouded leopard the longest fangs of any cat, relative to the overall size of its body. 

Sunda Clouded Leopards of both sexes have the longest canines by a small margin. They are darker with grey to greyish-yellow background fur and relatively small, irregular blotches with thick, black margins and usually small black spots within each blotch. The lower legs are marked with solid, black blotches that are closely clustered.

Indochinese Clouded Leopards are generally paler and brighter with buff to rich tawny background colour, and very large blotches with narrow black margins and few or no spots within the blotches. Solid black blotches on the lower legs tend to be more widely spaced than the Sunda cats.

Prey:

Clouded leopards have been known to prey on a wide variety of small and medium sized vertebrates including both terrestrial and arboreal species. Primates and small ungulates constitute their staple prey.

Biology:

This is virtually unknown in the wild. Most information comes from captive studies, with few records. In captivity breeding occurs year round, though it is assumed to be seasonal in the wild. Gestation lasts 85-95 days, with litters averaging 2-3 kittens.