What are the main physical features of the leopard?

The leopard is one of natures most beautiful creatures. This graceful and strongly built cat has a comparatively long body with a thick neck, short, powerful legs and a long tail. It is stockier in build than the cheetah and serval, the only other spotted cats of comparable size.

The base colour is pale buff to golden yellow, with black spots forming rosettes on the flanks, hips and shoulders and spots on the face and legs. The underparts are whitish. There are two black bars across the throat. The tail is long and spotted for about half its length, with black bands towards the tip, and is white underneath. The ears are small and rounded.

Leopards found in arid areas are paler than those found in denser, forested areas.

Males can attain a mass of up to 70 kg and females up to 40 kg. Both sexes attain a shoulder height of about 70 to 80cm.