Clouded leopard (Neofelisnebulosa)
- Category
Ecology and Environment
- Published
28th Mar, 2024
-
Context
The species is being in news due to ongoing effort to count it in spite of its elusive nature.
About
- The clouded leopard (Neofelisnebulosa) is a wild cat that lives in the cloud forests of Southeast Asia, from the foothills of the Himalayas through Northeast India and Bhutan to mainland Southeast Asia into South China.
- They are named for their cloud-like spots, and are one of the oldest cat species.
- Clouded leopards are stocky, larger than small cats, and smaller than large cats.
- They have large paws with specialized footpads for gripping branches, and specialized anklebones that allow them to climb in different positions.
- They can open their mouths to a 100-degree angle, and are one of only two cat species that can climb down trees headfirst.
- IUCN Status: Vulnerable