The Breezy Existence of the Snow Leopard Quiz

Answer: Long, thick gray or yellow base coat with a white belly and gray or black spots

Snow leopards have long, thick fur, with a base color that ranges from light gray to tan, with a whitish belly. Their spots, called rosettes, are dark grey or black, and they are mainly located on their bodies, though they do have smaller spots on their heads and fewer, but larger, spots on their legs and tails.

Answer: Light green or gray

The eyes of the snow leopard might be one of their more distinctive features. Their striking light green or gray eyes are very unusual for big cats.

Answer: Panthera uncia

The first descriptions of the snow leopard come from German studies in 1777. At first, these beautiful cats were called Felis uncia. Almost 100 years later, the current classification of Panthera uncia was given to the snow leopard by British biologists. Though these cats are still considered part of Panthera today, current thinking stresses that there are many differences between snow leopards and other members of Panthera.

Answer: Tiger

Believe it or not, the snow leopard is not a close relative of the clouded leopard. The clouded leopard is part of the classification Neofelis, the newer felines. The snow leopard, on the other hand, and the other choices given, are part of the Panthera classification. Within that grouping, snow leopards are much closer to the tiger than they are to the jaguar or the lion.

Answer: The undersides are lined with fur

Given the cold habitat where the snow leopard is found, its body has developed many unique features to adapt to the climate. One of these is that the undersides of the paws are lined with fur to keep the body warm by reducing the loss of heat. It also helps the animal maintain a better grip on the steep and rocky surfaces of the mountains.

The paws are also wide to provide better balance in the snow.

Answer: Central Asian Mountain Ranges

The snow leopard lives in the snowy alpine regions of Central Asia. They are normally found at elevations of 3,000 to 4,500 meters. They currently live in southern Siberia and in several Russian mountain ranges as well as in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and in the high altitudes of the Himalayas in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Tibetan Plateau.

They are also found in Mongolia and Tibet.

Answer: When a mother is raising her cubs

Snow leopards live with their mother until they are almost two years old. After this time they leave to live on their own and possibly start their own families. A female snow leopard also won't have another litter until one has left her side.

Answer: Carnivorous - they eat mostly meat

Snow leopards rely on meat to keep their energy up. Generally they will kill a sheep or ibex, but will eat smaller animals such as hares and birds if the opportunity arises. A snow leopard is very strong and can kill an animal up to three times its own weight! Sometimes snow leopards may eat twigs & grasses, making the snow leopard less of a true carnivore, but more so than the other incorrect answer options.

Answer: 90-100 days, similar to most big cat species

The gestation period of a snow leopard is 90-100 days and is similar to that of most big cats. They mate in winter, with most young being born between April and June. A female will line a den with fur that has been shed from her belly so the cubs can be nice and comfortable when they are born. A usual litter ranges from one to five cubs.

Answer: Chuffing, somewhere between a roar and a meow

Snow leopards make a sound that is somewhat between a meow and a roar, which is called "chuffing". However, they also make sounds more common to the human ear such as hissing, mewling, growling and wailing. The reason for these strange sounds is the lack of a larynx in the throat of the snow leopard.