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=__**The Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia)**__=

===**The elusive big cat from the mountains of central Asia. The snow leopard is one of the smaller big cats, but has an advantage for there ability to navigate and hunt in their habitat of snow and rock. The snow leopard is a thing because....**===
 * 1) Growth and Developement
 * 2) Reproduce
 * 3) Climate and terrain (responding)
 * 4) Needs and Habitat
 * 5) Behavior and Hunting

=__Growth and Developement__= A fully grown snow leopard can be up to five feet tall and can weight from 60 to 120 pounds.Snow Leopards are known to live for 21 years. As they grow older they will follow their mother to find their favored paths to claim a territory when they must leave their den. A snow leopards coat of fur can very from a light gray/tan to an all white, these colours are best for hunting in snow or dead plants. Their ringed brown or black spots also help camouflage.

**__Reproduce__**
Litter sizes are on average range from 2-3 cubs. Gestation period last 3-3 and a half months. Mating season occurs from January to mid March. Females give birth in rocky dens. The cubs follow their mom during hunts and stay with their mother for their first winter. The cubs are born with a full coat of fur. And weigh from about .75 to 1.50 pounds. A female can attract a mate by urinating or moaning to inform that it is mating season.

In the cold and harsh winters and blizzards, the snow leopard used it's thick coat of fur to keep itself warm when hunting, sleeping, and scouting. During the night, the snow leopard uses it's long fuzzy tall to keep it's sensitive body parts warm when sleeping. Also, the tail is used to balance them Due to their wider based paws, they can navigate through rockier areas.

The snow leopard needs shelter, food and water and air. Air- The snow leopard lives at a high altitude but can stil meet it's need for air. Water- The snow leopard get's it's water from the liquids in it's prey because of lack of water during winter. Shelter- The snow leopard lives in the side of a mountain, usually in a cave with a good view of it's surroundings. The cave is called a fur den because it is lined with the snow leopards fur. The snow leopard's population is slowly decrease because of lack of food and are being hunted by humans because of their domestic farm animals being eaten such as hares, birds, ibex, live stock etc.

__**Behavior and Hunting**__
The snow leopard is a majestic beast but is rarely seen. These elusive creatures can be seen at dusk and dawn (rarely as stated). They hunt by cautiously stalking their prey from a 20-50 foot radius. Do to their strong build and snowshoe like paws they can leap 30 feet, about 5 times their length. They will position themselves above their prey for a silent and effective strike. As they climb on the steep slops they will use their tail for balance. The snow leopard is at the top of it's food chain, and will eat prey either smaller or easier to catch.

[] (listen to with sound!) [] (watch closely)

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 * Kingdom: || Animalia ||
 * Phylum: || Chordata ||
 * Class: || Mammalia ||
 * Order: || Carnivora ||
 * Family: || Felidae ||
 * Subfamily: || Pantherinae ||
 * Genus: || //**Uncia**// (disputed) Gray, 1854[2home] ||
 * Species: || //**U. uncia**// ||