Sleek, elusive, and built for the trees, the clouded leopard prowls the forests of Southeast Asia and the eastern Himalayas. With its striking coat and incredible climbing skills, this mysterious big cat is rarely seen—but always captivating.
How big are clouded leopards?
Clouded leopards are between 69-107cm long without their tail, which adds another 61-84cm. Male clouded leopards are heavier than females, weighing between 16-18 kg compared to 11.5-13.5kg.
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What do clouded leopards look like?
Superficially, clouded leopards look like small leopards. Their spots are much larger, however - not unlike those of giraffes, but with a pale interior dotted with smaller spots.
They're more like clouds than spots, hence the name.
Other telltale features include an unusually long tail, used for balance when climbing, and the longest canine teeth relative to skull size of all big cats (almost as large as in tigers). Their gape is also wider than that of any other big cat - 100 degrees, compared with 65 degrees in lions.
Why clouded leopards have such an impressive gape and dentition is not known, since their typical feeding behaviour (observed in captivity) is much the same as in other big cats. That is, prey is dispatched by latching onto the throat and holding it to the point of suffocation.
What do clouded leopards eat?
Takes both arboreal and terrestrial prey, including small deer, bearded pigs, monkeys, porcupines, palm civets, squirrels and birds.
Where do clouded leopards live?
Clouded leopards live in forested regions of Southeast Asia and the eastern Himalayas. Their range includes countries such as:
- Nepal, Bhutan, and northeastern India (eastern Himalayas)
- Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam
- Southern China
- Malaysia and Indonesia (Borneo and Sumatra)
They prefer tropical and subtropical forests, especially dense jungles, but can also be found in mangrove swamps and foothill forests up to around 3,000 meters (9,800 feet).
How long are clouded leopards pregnant?
Female gives birth to 1-5 cubs (usually 2 or 3) after a gestation period of 88-95 days. Young are sexually mature at 20-30 months.
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