Neofelis nebulosa
Range
They are found in Asia – Southeast Asia, Borneo, Sumatra, Nepal, southern China and Thailand, though their range has decreased with habitat loss.
Habitat
They live in the forest. In tropical ranges, they live in rainforest. In more temperate ranges they live in woodlands.
Body Traits
One of the smallest “big cats”, a male clouded leopard weighs up to 50 pounds – females are smaller. The tail is as long as the body reaching up to 3 feet long and they have short, strong legs for jumping. Their coat is grayish-yellow with big spots bordered in black.
Habits
They climb trees (arboreal) and spend much of their time perched on branches watching for prey below. They are amazing jumpers and are also known to be able to climb head first down tree trunks.
Diet
As carnivores they will eat any animal in their range including monkeys, deer, wild pig, and even birds.
Predators
They have few predators other than man and the loss of their forest homes.
Reproduction
Females are pregnant for slightly more than 3 months (gestation). They breed once a year and have up to 5 cubs per litter.
Lifespan and/or Conservation Status
No one knows how long they live in the wild, but in captivity they can live more than 15 years. They are listed as “vulnerable”.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Feliformia
- Family: Felidae /Subfamily: Pantherinae
- Genus: Neofelis
- Species: Neofelis nebulosa