Species

Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr)

Native Location

Arabian Peninsula

Size

Smallest leopard subspecies

Physical Characteristics

Fur varies from pale yellow to deep golden, tawny or grey with rosettes

Habitat

Mountains, uplands, hilly steppes

Distribution

Limited to the Arabian Peninsula, including Egypt's Sinai Peninsula

Ecology and Behavior

Nocturnal, sometimes active during the day, prefers well-vegetated terrain

Prey

Small to medium prey species

Threats

Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation

Prey depletion due to unregulated hunting

Trapping for the illegal wildlife trade

Retaliatory killing in defense of livestock

Status on IUCN Red List

Critically Endangered since 1996

Estimated Population (2006)

Fewer than 200 wild individuals

Subpopulations

Severely fragmented; no subpopulation larger than 50 mature individuals

Population Trend

Thought to be declining continuously

Conservation Status

Listed in CITES Appendix I

Captive Breeding

Breeding Centre for Endangered Wildlife, Sharjah

Leopard Species

Scientific Name

Region

Status

Key Details

African Leopard

Panthera pardus pardus

Sub-Saharan Africa

Vulnerable

CITES Appendix I.

Largest leopard subspecies; variable fur pattern, primarily in savannas and forests.

Persian Leopard

Panthera pardus saxicolor

Iran, Caucasus, Turkey

Endangered

Larger size compared to African leopards; adapted to mountainous regions.

Indian Leopard

Panthera pardus fusca

India, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Vulnerable

Adapted to diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, and human-dominated areas.

Sri Lankan Leopard

Panthera pardus kotiya

Sri Lanka

Vulnerable

Island population; smaller size, distinct rosette patterns.

Javan Leopard

Panthera pardus melas

Java, Indonesia

Endangered

Small population isolated in the mountainous forests of Java.

Amur Leopard

Panthera pardus orientalis

Russia (Siberia)

Critically Endangered

Most endangered leopard subspecies; adapted to cold climate, dense forests.

Snow Leopard

Panthera uncia

Central Asia, Himalayas

Vulnerable

Highly adapted to high-altitude, rugged terrains; elusive, mostly solitary.

Chinese Leopard

Panthera pardus japonensis

China

Vulnerable

Smaller compared to other leopard species; found in various habitats, including forests and mountains.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding the Arabian leopard:

1. It is native to the Arabian Peninsula and is the smallest subspecies of leopard.
2. The Arabian leopard has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996.
3. It prefers open plains and coastal lowlands as its primary habitat.

How many of the above-given statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Arabian leopard (Panthera pardus nimr) is native to the Arabian Peninsula and is the smallest subspecies of leopard.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Arabian leopard has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1996.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Arabian leopard prefers well-vegetated mountainous uplands and hilly steppes, not open plains or coastal lowlands.