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What the sources say

LeopardPanthera pardus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Leopard profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 53 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Leopard. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysA 21 to 75 kg big cat
The source saysFemales weigh 46 to 132 pounds (21 to 60 kilograms); males weigh 80 to 165 pounds (36 to 75 kilograms)Note: tagline; 21 kg lowest female, 75 kg highest male
The page saysclimbs up to 15 m into a tree carrying its kill
The source saysclimb as high as 50 feet (15 meters) up a favorite tree while holding a fresh kill in its mouthNote: tagline
The page saysout of reach of lions and hyenas
The source saysThey stash food up high so other predators such as lions or hyenas can’t get it.Note: tagline
The page saysMonkeys, baboons, rodents, snakes, large birds, fish, antelope and warthogs
The source saysmonkeys, baboons, rodents, snakes, amphibians, large birds, fish, antelope, cheetah cubs, warthogs, and porcupinesNote: stats.diet
The page saysCarries a fresh kill up to 15 m (50 ft) up a tree, even one heavier than itself
The source saysclimb as high as 50 feet (15 meters) up a favorite tree while holding a fresh kill in its mouth, even one larger and heavier than themselvesNote: stats.superpower
The page saysto keep it from lions and hyenas
The source saysThey stash food up high so other predators such as lions or hyenas can’t get it.Note: stats.superpower
The page saysA leopard can climb as high as 15 meters (50 feet) up a favorite tree while holding a fresh kill in its mouth. The kill can even be larger and heavier than the cat.
The source saysclimb as high as 50 feet (15 meters) up a favorite tree while holding a fresh kill in its mouth, even one larger and heavier than themselves
The page saysOne leopard was seen dragging a 100 kilogram young giraffe into thick brush to hide it.
The source saysOne leopard was spotted dragging a 220-pound (100 kilograms) young giraffe into heavy brush to hide it.
The page saysLeopards are not always at the top of the food chain. In Africa, lions and packs of hyenas or painted dogs can kill leopards, and in Asia a tiger can do the same.
The source saysleopards are not always at the top of the food chain. In Africa, lions and packs of hyenas or painted dogs can kill leopards; in Asia, a tiger can do the same.
The page saysMeat stashed up high is out of reach of lions and hyenas, so the leopard can return to eat more later.
The source saysThey stash food up high so other predators such as lions or hyenas can’t get it. This way, leopards can return to eat more at a later time.
The page saysOf the large cats, leopards are the most arboreal, meaning tree-living, and their long tails help them balance on narrow branches.
The source saysOf the large cats, leopards are the most arboreal; they have long tails to help them to balance on narrow tree branches.
The page saysLeopards are the smallest of the large cats, a group that also includes lions, tigers and jaguars.
The source saysLeopards are the smallest of the large cats (to include lions, tigers, and jaguars)
The page saysTheir length runs from 92 to 190 centimeters (3 to 6.2 feet)
The source saysLength: 3 to 6.2 feet (92 to 190 centimeters)
The page saysthe tail measures 64 to 99 centimeters
The source saysTail length: 25 to 39 inches (64 to 99 centimeters)
The page saysFemales weigh 21 to 60 kilograms and males 36 to 75 kilograms.
The source saysFemales weigh 46 to 132 pounds (21 to 60 kilograms); males weigh 80 to 165 pounds (36 to 75 kilograms)
The page saysIn human care, median life expectancy is about 18 years.
The source saysFor leopards in human care, median life expectancy is about 18 years.
The page saysLeopards can run in bursts up to 58 kilometers per hour, leap 6 meters forward in a single bound and jump 3 meters straight up.
The source saysable to run in bursts up to 36 miles an hour (58 kilometers per hour), leap 20 feet (6 meters) forward in a single bound, and jump ten feet (3 meters) straight up
The page saysA leopard's back is covered in flower-shaped spots called rosettes, and each rosette has no dot in the center. A jaguar has a dot inside each of its rosettes.
The source sayscovered with flower-shaped spots on their backs called rosettes, with no dot in the center; the jaguar has a dot inside each of its rosettes
The page saysLeopards are usually nocturnal, resting by day and hunting at night.
The source saysLeopards are usually nocturnal, resting by day and hunting at night.
The page saysTheir spots break up the body outline in forests and grasslands.
The source saysThis profusion of spots helps leopards hide from their prey, breaking up their body outline in forests or grasslands.
The page saysIn the thick, dark rainforests of Southeast Asia, some leopards are nearly black, though the spotted pattern shows in certain light.
The source saysIn the thick, dark rainforests of Southeast Asia, leopards that are nearly black can sometimes be found; these cats may look solid black at first glance, but their spotted pattern is visible in certain light.
The page saysA leopard stalks and pounces rather than chasing prey over long distances, and it often slinks along on its belly.
The source saysThe big cat stalks and pounces rather than chases its prey over long distances.
The page saysoften slinks along on its belly
The source saysoften slinking along on the belly
The page saysIt hunts with vision, keen hearing and whiskers rather than smell.
The source saysThe cat uses its vision, keen hearing, and whiskers, rather than its sense of smell, while hunting.
The page saysIt can hear five times more sounds than a human, even the ultrasonic squeaks of mice
The source saysLeopards can hear five times more sounds than humans, even the ultrasonic squeaks made by mice.
The page saysPrey is killed with a bite to the throat.
The source saysPrey is killed with a bite to the throat.
The page saysThe menu includes monkeys, baboons, rodents, snakes, large birds, fish, antelope and warthogs.
The source saysmonkeys, baboons, rodents, snakes, amphibians, large birds, fish, antelope, cheetah cubs, warthogs, and porcupines
The page saysRarely. A leopard's voice is more of a raspy bark.
The source saysLeopards rarely roar; their voice is more of a raspy bark.
The page saysWhite spots on the tip of the tail and the back of the ears help leopards find each other in tall grass.
The source saysWhite spots on the tip of the tail and back of the ears help leopards locate and communicate with each other in tall grass.
The page saysOutside breeding season they live alone and mark territory with urine, face rubbing, ground scraping and clawed tree bark.
The source saysExcept during breeding season, leopards lead a solitary life, marking their territory with urine, rubbing the face against rocks or tree trunks, scraping at the ground or rolling on it, and by shredding tree bark with their claws.
The page saysA litter is usually two or three cubs
The source saysNumber of young at birth: 1 to 6; usually 2 to 3 per litter
The page saysGestation, the time spent in the womb, lasts 3 to 3.5 months
The source saysGestation: 3 to 3.5 months
The page sayseach cub weighs 500 to 600 grams at birth
The source saysWeight at birth: 17 to 21 ounces (500 to 600 grams)
The page sayswith sealed eyes
The source saysThe cubs are born with little hair and their eyes are sealed.
The page saysAt about three months they start going out with their mother to learn hunting
The source saysAt about three months of age, the cubs venture out with their mother to learn hunting skills.
The page saysyoung leopards are usually ready to head out on their own between 12 and 18 months old
The source saysYoung leopards are usually ready to head out on their own between 12 and 18 months
The page saysA leopard stalks and pounces rather than chasing prey over long distances
The source saysThe big cat stalks and pounces rather than chases its prey over long distances.Note: vibe.reason; same quote as the body claim
The page saysit often slinks along on its belly
The source saysoften slinking along on the bellyNote: vibe.reason; same quote as the body claim

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Panthera pardus (leopard). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysLeopards also get much of the water they need from their prey.
The source saysobtain much of their water requirements from ingested prey
The page saysthe Amur leopard of the Russian Far East and north-eastern China
The source saysPanthera pardus orientalis , far east Russia, on the Korean peninsula and in north-eastern ChinaNote: orientalis is the Amur leopard; ADW's range also names the Korean peninsula, left out to match the amur-leopard profile's current range
The page saysBlack panthers are leopards that carry recessive melanistic genes
The source saysBlack panthers, which are most populous in humid forests, are leopards with recessive melanistic genes.
The page saysThey are most common in humid forests.
The source saysBlack panthers, which are most populous in humid forests, are leopards with recessive melanistic genes.
The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
The source saysInjured or sickly leopards have been known to hunt humans as easy prey.Note: #981: tiers are capabilities (#631); an animal that hunts people as prey can kill one

Source
03

Jacobson et al. 2016

Jacobson et al. (2016). Leopard (Panthera pardus) status, distribution, and the research efforts across its range. PeerJ.

The page saysTropical forests, grassland plains, deserts and alpine areas across much of Africa and Asia
The source saysextending across much of Africa, and Asia from the Middle East to the Pacific OceanNote: stats.habitat
The page saysTropical forests, grassland plains, deserts and alpine areas
The source saysFound in tropical forests, grassland plains, deserts, and alpine areasNote: stats.habitat
The page saysThe leopard is the most widespread felid, found across much of Africa and across Asia from the Middle East to the Pacific Ocean.
The source saysIt is also the most widespread felid, extending across much of Africa, and Asia from the Middle East to the Pacific Ocean
The page saysIt lives in tropical forests, grassland plains, deserts and alpine areas.
The source saysFound in tropical forests, grassland plains, deserts, and alpine areas
The page saysThat study recognized nine subspecies
The source saysOf the nine recognized subspecies
The page saysa 2016 study of its range found that the leopard occupied 25 to 37 percent of its historic range
The source saysThe leopard now occupies 25–37% of its historic range
The page saysa range loss of 63 to 75 percent
The source saysThe leopard has suffered range loss of 63–75%

Source
04

Stein et al. 2025

Stein et al. (2025). Panthera pardus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T15954A286153337.

The page saysVulnerable
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).Note: stats.conservationStatus
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Vulnerable.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).

Source
05

Parchizadeh & Belant 2021

Parchizadeh & Belant (2021). Brown bear and Persian leopard attacks on humans in Iran. PLOS ONE.

The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
The source saysleopard incidents resulted in 97% ( n = 30) injuries and 3% ( n = 1) fatalitiesNote: #981: Persian leopard is Panthera pardus; a recorded fatality. Same quote the amur-leopard's Deadly tier rests on

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.