Scientific name for a snow leopard is unica unica.
A male snow leopard is called a leopard.
A female is called a leopardess.
A baby is called a cub.
Snow Leopards like steep, rocky terrain.
Snow Leopards live in the mountains of Central Asia including the Himalayan Mountains in the countries of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, China Afghanistan and Russia.
In the Summer months snow leopards will stay high up in the mountains, in the Winter months they will come down from the mountains and enter forests.
Snow Leopards are an endangered species.
Snow Leopards are mammals.
Snow Leopards are carnivores meaning they eat meat.
They will hunt prey up to three times the size of their own body weight.
Snow Leopards like to eat blue sheep and mountain ibex. They will also eat wild sheep and goats, birds and other small animals.
Snow Leopards vary in color from cream to a pale yellow, light tan or light grey color.
Snow Leopards have rosettes. Rosettes are rose-like shaped spots.
Their rosettes range in color from dark grey to black.
A snow leopards rosettes are smaller on their head, legs and tail and larger on their body.
Like humans no two snow leopards have the same rosettes pattern.
Snow Leopards weight between 60-120 pounds.
They have thick fur to keep them warm in their cold climate.
Snow Leopards have pale green or grey eyes.
They are about 2 feet tall from paw to shoulder.
Snow Leopards are 3 feet-4.5 feet long not including their tail.
Their tails are 2.5 feet to 3.5 feet long.
A snow leopards tail is long, thick and flexible to help them keep balance.
Their tails also stores fat to keep them warm.
When snow leopards are sleeping they wrap their tails around their bodies like a blanket.
Snow Leopards can jump up to 50 ft.
They can run at speeds between 40-50 miles per hour but only for a short distance.
Snow Leopards a solitary animals meaning they like to live alone.
Snow Leopards cannot roar but they make other sounds such as growling, chuffing, hissing and meowing.
Snow Leopards use urine to mark their territory and to attract mates.
A mother snow leopard gives birth to 2-3 cubs.
Cubs are born helpless and blind.
They begin to see after 7 days.
Cubs live with their mothers for up to two years before going off to live alone.
Humans are the major threat to the snow leopard species.
Poachers (illegal hunters) kill snow leopards for their thick fur and bones used in some cultural medicines.
Loss of habitat also contributes to the decline in snow leopard populations.
