Clouded Leopards
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common title
Clouded leopard; Panthèr longibande (Fr); Pantera nebulosa (Sp)
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scientific name
Neofelis nebulosa; Neofelis diardi (Bornean)
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habitat
Subtropical/Tropical Moist Forests
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status
IUCN: Vulnerable (VU C2a; (i)) CITES: Appendix I
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population
Estimated 10,000
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weight
Between 11 and 20 kg
More information
© WWF-Canon / Alain Compost
Download a wallpaper for your desktop of the Bornean Clouded Leopard (small size) (large size)
Physical Description
The clouded leopard is named after the distinctive 'clouds' on its coat - ellipses partially edged in black, with the insides a darker colour than the background colour of the pelt.The base of the fur is a pale yellow to rich brown, making the darker cloud-like markings look even more distinctive.
The limbs and underbelly are marked with large black ovals, and the back of its neck is conspicuously marked with two thick black bars.
The clouded leopard is a medium-sized cat, 60 to 110 cm long and weighing between 11 and 20kg.
It does, however, have an exceptionally long tail for balancing, which can be as long as the body itself, thick with black ring markings.
The Clouded Leopard has a stocky build and, proportionately, the longest canine teeth of any living feline.
Well adapted to forest life, the clouded leopard also has relatively short legs and broad paws which make it excellent at climbing trees and creeping through thick forest. It can climb while hanging upside-down under branches and descend tree trunks head-first.