Research Paper On Snow Leopards

Save the Snow Leopards

Lauren Chun Period 5

8th Grade Life Science Wednesday, May 16, 2015

The snow leopard is one of the most unique mammals in its feline family. Its common name is the snow leopard and its scientific name is Panthera uncia. The snow leopard is in the class Mammalia, the order Carnivora, and the family Felidae. They have physical traits that help them adapt to their habitat. For example, they have extra large and padded paws that prevent them from sinking in the snow. Snow leopards have white, yellowish, and smoky grey fur with black spots. This thick and dense fur helps to keep them insulated in their frigid temperatures of their habitat. They also have an extra large tail that acts like a scarf for the leopard. It also helps

The snow leopard doesn’t have many enemies. The few that it has range from wolves, tigers, and cheetahs. Snow leopards have short from limbs and long hind legs that help them to jump. They also have strong chest muscles to help them climb steep mountain terrain. With the adapted paws that they have, it allows them to walk on the snow without sinking and also provides great traction. The snow leopard’s mating season ranges from January to Mid-March. Snow leopards are Placental Mammals, so they have a longer pregnancy compared to other mammals. Snow leopards can be pregnant from three to three and a half months. They also usually give birth to 2-3 cubs, which are born around June or July. Another interesting fact about the snow leopard is that they are born blind for the first nine days of their lives. Also, unlike the other big cats, snow leopards can roar and they also eat more plant material. Another interesting thing is that their maximum speed is 55 kilometers an

Right now, scientists are studying climate changes and the effects it has on the snow leopard and its habitat. Scientists working with the WWF Mongolia have run a test on the current state of their habitat, future tendency with habitats, and the amount of areas that the snow leopards can be found, or distribution range. They also ran this kind of test for the snow leopards’ prey, which include, Argali Sheep, Ibex, Marmot, and the Altai Snow Cock. So far, they have their predictions and preliminary thoughts on the test, but results are to still be confirmed. There are other things out there about snow leopards that scientists have yet to discover. For example, they still don’t know the social system of the snow leopard or how the really communicate with each other. They do know that snow leopards are solitary until mating season. Afterwards, they again remain