Leopard

Panthera pardus

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Carnivora ›Family: Felidae ›Genus: Panthera

About

The leopard (Panthera pardus) /ˈlɛpərd/ is one of the five species in the genus Panthera, a member of the Felidae. The leopard occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because leopard populations are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and are declining in large parts of the global range. In Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuwait, Syria, Libya, Tunisia and most likely in...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Leopard?
The scientific name of Leopard is Panthera pardus.
What is the conservation status of Leopard?
The Leopard has a conservation status of Vulnerable.
What kingdom does Leopard belong to?
Leopard belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Leopard belong to?
Leopard belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Leopard belong to?
Leopard belongs to the class Mammalia.
What order does Leopard belong to?
Leopard belongs to the order Carnivora.
What family does Leopard belong to?
Leopard belongs to the family Felidae.
What genus does Leopard belong to?
Leopard belongs to the genus Panthera.

In the News

Ecotourism may deter hunters, but also keeps wildlife away, Laos study suggests

Clouded leopards, sun bears, and other medium to large mammals living in a protected but intensively hunted landscape in northern Laos might be selecting their forest hangouts based on the chatter of hikers and splashes of kayakers, according to new research. The study, published in Global Ecology and Conservation, used camera-trap data from between 2013 […]

Mongabay · 11/2/2026

Persian leopards hang on in the Caucasus despite landmines

There have been few sightings of the endangered Persian leopard in the Caucasus region over the past 20 years: just three in Georgia and 10 in Armenia. But scientists and conservationists are alert to one Persian leopard in particular, whom they’ve named Aren and who is presumed to have journeyed 240 kilometers (150 miles) through […]

Mongabay · 10/27/2026

Colorado wildlife overpass cut vehicle-animal collisions by 91%, report finds

Elk, bear, frogs and other animals have used the overpass, which connects 39,000 acres of habitat, since its completion Colorado officials have tracked herds of elk, bears, pronghorn and even northern leopard frogs ambling across its new wildlife overpass. According to a newly released report, the overpass, which acts as a bridge over a busy stretch of interstate, has helped cut wildlife-vehicle collisions by 91% since its completion 10 months ago. The overpass is the centerpiece of a larger system built by the state to assist wildlife crossing the highway, which also includes miles of 8-ft-tall fencing and five large wildlife underpasses. Continue reading...

The Guardian Environment · 10/19/2026

‘A few are afraid of the chicks’: Preparing Thailand’s rescued leopard cats for life in the wild

KHON KAEN, Thailand – A wildlife officer holds a leopard cat cub in one hand, its entire body small enough for her fingers to wrap around its torso. With the other hand, she feeds it formula milk from a syringe. This is the latest rescue at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife’s rescue center […]

Mongabay · 10/7/2026

Pratap Singh Chundawat rescued a leopard from a well. He died in the line of duty, aged 40

Founder’s Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. On April 9, a farmer named Rupalal heard noises in a well at his field in Dhawadi village in the state of Rajasthan in India. He looked down and saw a leopard 21 meters (70 feet) below. A […]

Mongabay · 9/30/2026

How new is the first ‘new-to-science’ cat discovered in more than 100 years?

Scientists have described a species of tiger cat that was previously unknown to science. From Bolivia’s Yungas cloud forests, it is the first discovery of a living novel cat species in more than 100 years. The tilcayo (Leopardus tilcayo) takes its species name from the name locals already had for it. Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a National […]

Mongabay · 9/25/2026