The Small 'Big Cat'

he Snow Leopard is one of 36 species of wild cats. Many people think of the Snow Leopard as a "Big Cat", but despite the fact that it shares many of the physical attributes common to all big cats (Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Jaguar) they are not as closely related as the other big cats.

They have forward-facing eyes equipped with superb night vision, retractable claws, large canine teeth with which to grasp and choke its quarry, loose belly skin to reduce the impact of kicking by larger prey, and a rough tongue that enables them to remove fur and skin from their victims.

Snow Leopards have a rounded head, with a short, broad muzzle, that is comparatively small for its body size.

However, in addition to differences in skull characteristics, the Snow Leopard cannot 'roar' due to the under-development of the fibro-elastic tissue that forms part of the vocal apparatus (hyoid appartus).

Consequently, the Snow Leopard is often classified as Uncia uncia to distinguish it from the other members of Genus Panthera. In addition, an average male weighs around just 50kg (females are smaller) which makes them markedly smaller than the other big cats.

Despite sharing the same name, they are also discernibly different in appearance to the Common Leopard. The dark broken-spot and rosette markings of the Snow Leopard are less distinct and more widely-spaced than those of the Common Leopard.

They are characterised by having a long tail, that can sometimes be as long as the body

The predominant colour of the Snow Leopard coat varies with the seasons, from a whitish-grey in the winter to a yellowish-grey during the summer.

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The limbs of the Snow Leopard are also relatively short for its body size, yet they are remarkably powerful.