Ounce and the species name uncia derive from the old French word once, which means "lynx." The snow leopard is hunted for its fur and body parts and killed to protect livestock. China has almost 60% of the world’s snow leopard habitat in the areas like Xinjiang which is a huge, sparsely populated region of over 1.6 million square kilomteres (about one sixth of the China’s territory) and shares a border with the Tibet Autonomous Region. Because of the presence of certain skeletal features, such as having a shorter skull and having more-rounded eye orbits than other big cats, the snow leopard has also been classified by some authorities as the sole member of the genus Uncia. They can be found in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Bhutan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Like domestic kittens, snow leopard cubs are blind at birth. The snow leopard is a omnivore so it eats meat and plants. While the snow leopard is close in size to a lynx, it is more closely related to the jaguar, leopard, and tiger. It hunts at night and preys on various animals, such as marmots, wild sheep, ibex (Capra), and domestic livestock. While they aren't aggressive toward humans, snow leopards do not make good pets because they require considerable space and raw meat, and males spray to mark territory. Snow leopards live across a vast area of northern and central Asia, including the Himalayan Mountains. Laurascudder, GNU Free Documentation License. Snow leopards do not hunt adult yaks or humans. Known for their elusive nature, snow leopards are referred to by locals as “mountain ghosts.” As one of the most mysterious species on the planet, the snow leopard remains one of the least understood, and seen, of the big cats. These traits also distinguish the snow leopard from other big cats. The other name for the snow leopard is the "ounce." By helping to protect the snow leopard, we’re helping to conserve its environment for the benefit of people and nature. Usually they are solitary, but pairs have been known to hunt together. Snow Leopard Habitat Snow leopards live in mountainous terrain which, for much of the time, is covered with snow. They also eat grass, twigs, and other vegetation. At that point, the young cats travel great distances to seek their new home. Corrections? Snow leopard habitat is made up chiefly by temperate shrublands, tundra grasslands and steppe in arid or semi-arid regions. Snow leopards are highly adapted to their home in the cold high mountains. The underparts, on which the fur may be 10 cm (4 inches) long, are uniformly whitish. An additional 600 snow leopards live in captivity. Snow leopards play a key role as both a top predator and as an indicator of the health of their high-altitude habitat, ranging from an elevation of about 6,000 feet in the winter to about 18,000 feet in the summer. They are widely distributed in the Himalayas in Bhutan, Nepal, and India as well as the Tibetan plateau. Picture by Tambako the Jaguar / Getty Images, African Lion Facts: Habitat, Diet, Behavior, Fascinating Arctic Fox Facts (Vulpes lagopus), 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T22732A50664030.en, Fading footprints; the killing and trade of snow leopards, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. Snow leopards live in alpine meadows as well as in treeless rocky mountains. Between 2,500 to 10,000 adult snow leopards remain in the wild, but the species continues to face daunting threats to its survival. Their wild prey has decreased as herding and ranching activities have expanded throughout their geographic range. Their population is still considered to be declining, although they have been upgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (last assessed Nov. 2016).. 4. The change reflected an improved grasp of the reclusive cat's true population, rather than an increase in numbers. They live about 6500 to 20000 feet high on mountain slopes and snowy peaks. A rare appearance of snow leopard recently shifted focus back to the wild cat’s shifting habitat and its unknown census in Kashmir. The habitat in this area can be classified as Temperate, Broad leaf Vegtation, and Mixed Forests. Humans also hunt the snow leopard's prey, forcing the animal to encroach on human settlements to find food. She’s on the lookout for a snack. 2. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. They are more commonly found in the Himalayan mountain range, but frequent other Asian mountain ranges as well. The IUCN Red List now categorizes the snow leopard as a vulnerable species. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Snow Leopards are really big. Its litters of two to four young are born after a gestation period of approximately 93 days. Habitat loss is another significant threat to the snow leopard. The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), also known as the ounce, is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because the global population is estimated to number less than 10,000 mature individuals and is expected to decline about 10% by 2040. Snow Leopards, scientifically known as Panthera uncia, are part of the wildcat family.They are known as the “Ghost of the Mountain” because they are rarely seen out in the open. They can leap six times the length of their body. The snow leopard inhabits the mountains of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, ranging from an elevation of about 1,800 metres (about 6,000 feet) in the winter to about 5,500 metres (18,000 feet) in the summer. The snow leopard attains a length of about 2.1 metres (7 feet), including the 0.9-metre- (3-foot-) long tail. snow leopard (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia) It makes habitat at high altitudes reaching 14,000 feet above the sea level. In 2016, an estimated 4,500–8,000 snow leopards are left in the wild—much larger than previously thought (4,000–6,500 in 2003). Snow Leopard Facts (Panthera uncia) Description. The two most important prey species for snow leopards are the blue sheep and the large wild goat. An assessment in 2016 estimated a population between 2,710 to 3,386 mature individuals remaining in the wild, with a decreasing population trend. They can be found at elevations between 3,000 to 5,000 metres across a total of 12 different countries. The Ukok Plateau natural park provides critical habitat for the snow leopard and many other species, including the argali mountain sheep, dzeren antelope, black stork and steppe eagle. 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