What the sources say
Snow LeopardPanthera uncia
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Snow Leopard profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 42 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.
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Source
01
IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group
Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia). IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group.
- The page saysa tail up to a metre long
- The source says
The bushy tail is exceptionally long-up to 1 m
- The page saysAlpine and subalpine zones, favouring steep terrain broken by cliffs, ridges and gullies
- The source says
Snow leopards primarily inhabit alpine and subalpine zones, favouring steep terrain broken by cliffs, ridges, gullies, and rocky outcrops.
- The page saysBlue sheep (bharal), ibex, markhor, marmots, and pikas
- The source says
Key species include blue sheep ( Pseudois nayaur ), Siberian ibex ( Capra sibirica ), markhor ( Capra falconeri ), argali ( Ovis ammon ), musk deer ( Moschus chrysogaster ), and Himalayan tahr ( Hemitragus jemlahicus ). They also take smaller mammals and birds, such as marmots, pikas, hares
- The page saysan enlarged nasal cavity
- The source says
the snow leopard has an enlarged nasal cavity
- The page saysA snow leopard's tail can grow up to a metre long, 75 to 90 percent of its total body length
- The source says
The bushy tail is exceptionally long-up to 1 m, or 75-90% of the total body length
- The page saysIt does two jobs: it is thought to help the cat balance on steep slopes, and it wraps around the body like a scarf, trapping warmth while the cat rests in the cold
- The source says
is thought to aid balance on steep slopes. The tail can also be wrapped around the body to provide warmth while resting.
- The page saysvocal folds lack the fibro-elastic tissue other big cats have for a deep roar
- The source says
Their vocal folds lack the fibro-elastic tissue needed for deep roars, typical of other big cats
- The page saysA snow leopard's body is adapted for life high in the mountains
- The source says
Adapted for life at high elevations
- The page saysIts nasal cavity is enlarged
- The source says
the snow leopard has an enlarged nasal cavity
- The page saysAt up to a metre long, it can make up 75 to 90 percent of the snow leopard's total body length
- The source says
The bushy tail is exceptionally long-up to 1 m, or 75-90% of the total body length
- The page saysIt is thought to help the cat balance on steep slopes
- The source says
is thought to aid balance on steep slopes
- The page saysit doubles as a scarf: wrapped around the body, it holds in warmth while the cat curls up to rest
- The source says
The tail can also be wrapped around the body to provide warmth while resting.
- The page saysThe IUCN's cat specialists list three adaptations to life at high elevation: an enlarged nasal cavity, shortened forelimbs and well-developed chest muscles
- The source says
Adapted for life at high elevations, the snow leopard has an enlarged nasal cavity, shortened forelimbs, and well-developed chest muscles.
- The page saysSnow leopards are solitary and mainly active at dawn and dusk
- The source says
Snow leopards are solitary predators, mainly active at dawn and dusk.
- The page sayschasing it down steep slopes
- The source says
They stalk prey from above, chasing it down steep slopes.
- The page saysThey primarily prey on wild sheep and goats, including blue sheep, ibex, markhor, argali and musk deer, and also take marmots, pikas and hares
- The source says
Snow leopards primarily prey on wild sheep and goats ... Key species include blue sheep ( Pseudois nayaur ), Siberian ibex ( Capra sibirica ), markhor ( Capra falconeri ), argali ( Ovis ammon ), musk deer ( Moschus chrysogaster ) ... They also take smaller mammals and birds, such as marmots, pikas, hares
- The page saysThey frequently take domestic livestock too
- The source says
Domestic livestock is frequently taken
- The page saysA snow leopard can kill an animal up to three times its own weight, and may stay with a kill for up to a week if undisturbed
- The source says
Capable of killing animals up to three times their weight, they may stay with a kill for up to a week if undisturbed.
- The page saysSnow leopards range across the high mountains of 12 Central Asian countries, from the Himalaya to the Altai
- The source says
The species' range spans 12 countries, restricted to the high mountains of Central Asia, including the Altai, Tian Shan, Kun Lun, Pamir, Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalayan ranges.
- The page saystypically between 3,000 and 5,000 metres and occasionally above 5,500 metres in the Himalaya
- The source says
Snow leopards are typically found at elevations between 3,000 and 5,000 m, occasionally above 5,500 m in the Himalaya.
- The page saysTheir grey, rosette-spotted fur gives them excellent camouflage in the mountains
- The source says
Its fur is white-grey or grey-brown, patterned with dark grey or black spots and rosettes with pale centres, providing excellent camouflage in its mountainous habitat.
- The page saysGPS collars fitted to snow leopards in Mongolia's South Gobi showed home ranges from 100 to over 1,000 square kilometres
- The source says
In Mongolia's South Gobi, GPS-collared snow leopards had home ranges from 100 to over 1,000 km²
- The page saysThe IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable
- The source says
The snow leopard is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List .
- The page saysThe most recent estimate puts the global population at 7,446 to 7,996 snow leopards, with 2,710 to 3,386 of those being mature adults
- The source says
The most recent estimate places the population at 7,446-7,996 individuals, with 2,710-3,386 mature individuals.
- The page saysThreats generally include conflict with livestock herders, habitat degradation, prey declines, retaliatory killings, and poaching for hides, bones and other body parts
- The source says
Threats vary by region but generally include conflict with livestock herders, habitat degradation, prey declines, retaliatory killings, and poaching for illegal trade in hides, bones, and other parts.
Source
02
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Uncia uncia (snow leopard). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysa friendly chuffing sound called a prusten
- The source says
prusten (chuffing)
Note: ADW names the chuff 'prusten'; San Diego Zoo gives 'friendly chuff' - The page saysThey hunt by stalking prey from above, using rocky terrain and vegetation to stay hidden, and then ambush it
- The source says
The preferred method of hunting is to stalk and then ambush their prey from above, using rocky terrain and shrubby vegetation to conceal themselves.
Source
03
Snow Leopard Trust
Physical Features. Snow Leopard Trust.
- The page saysleaps of up to thirty feet
- The source says
They help launch the cat up to 30 feet (10 meters) in one leap!
- The page sayswarms the air before it reaches the lungs
- The source says
the wide, short nasal cavity warms the air before it reaches the cat's lungs
- The page saysStrong, short front legs paired with longer hind legs let a snow leopard launch itself up to 30 feet (10 metres) in one leap
- The source says
The cat has strong, short front limbs and longer hind limbs. They help launch the cat up to 30 feet (10 meters) in one leap!
- The page saysIts oversized, furred paws work like snowshoes, keeping it from sinking into the snow
- The source says
Its extra large paws keep the cat from sinking into the snow- like a pair of natural snow shoes .
- The page saysshort, strong front legs and longer hind legs give it the spring to launch itself up to 30 feet (10 metres) in one leap
- The source says
The cat has strong, short front limbs and longer hind limbs. They help launch the cat up to 30 feet (10 meters) in one leap!
- The page saysit warms the air on its way to the lungs
- The source says
the wide, short nasal cavity warms the air before it reaches the cat's lungs
- The page saysshort, rounded ears cut down on heat loss
- The source says
Its round, short ears reduce heat loss
- The page sayslonger hind legs launch it up to 30 feet (10 metres) in one leap
- The source says
The cat has strong, short front limbs and longer hind limbs. They help launch the cat up to 30 feet (10 meters) in one leap!
Note: vibe.reason (women artists)
Source
04
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Snow Leopard. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
- The page saysThe "ghost cat of the Himalayas"
- The source says
this medium-sized cat has been called the ghost cat of the Himalayas
- The page saysInstead it hisses, growls, moans and yowls, plus a friendly chuffing sound called a prusten, and can even purr
- The source says
snow leopards hiss, growl, moan, and yowl, but they do not roar, as their throat is similar to that of the smaller cats; instead, snow leopards make a friendly chuff and can purr, too
- The page saysgiving it traction across it
- The source says
The wide, furry paws also give the cat great traction on snow.
- The page saysIt does not roar
- The source says
but they do not roar
- The page saysit hisses, growls, moans and yowls instead, along with a friendly chuffing sound called a prusten, and can even purr
- The source says
snow leopards hiss, growl, moan, and yowl, but they do not roar, as their throat is similar to that of the smaller cats; instead, snow leopards make a friendly chuff and can purr, too
- The page saysthey blend in so well that they are almost impossible to locate and study in the wild
- The source says
Snow leopards are almost impossible to locate and study in their native habitat, because they blend in with their surroundings so well.
- The page saysa big cat that does not roar
- The source says
but they do not roar
Note: vibe.reason (women artists)
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.