Characteristics and Behavior

The average adult Snow Leopard weighs between eighty and one-hundred-and-twenty pounds. Their body and head is generally 47-59 inches long with their tail being as long as 31-39 inches. Despite their name, Snow Leopards are not actually apart of the leopard family, nor are they particularly close relatives to them. The Snow Leopards' closest sister species is the tiger. The Snow Leopards' tail is unusually long and broad which serves well for balancing, in the winter, the Snow Leopard keeps warm by wrapping its tail around its face. Their fur is thick and warm to protect them from the cold and ranges from pure white, to smoky grey, to a yellowish tan, with the underbelly always being white. They have black, brown, and dark grey rosettes. Snow Leopards are very camouflaged in their habitat, blending in with their surroundings easily. Unlike most big cats, Snow Leopards have blue, green, or grey eyes, these eyes provide extraordinary low-light vision, allowing them to hunt in near total darkness. They have short, powerful forelimbs, and long, muscular hind legs that enable them to spring from a distance of 20-50 feet.They have have strong lungs that allow them to run, even when the air is thin. Snow Leopards are shy and elusive in their territory. They are considered nocturnal, thought they seem to be most active during early morning and late afternoon. Snow Leopards are very territorial but are generally calm and low-key. They are very sparse in their territory.