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Snow leopard (Uncia
uncia) // Irbis
Habitat:
~ this big cat lives in the high mountains, where it is
very cold *brrr*. Strictly speaking in the Himalayas,
Pamir, Hindukusch, Altai, Tienschan as well as in other
central asian mountains. For example a few countries:
Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal,
Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirgisistan, Tadschikistan
and Usbekistan.
~ it feel well in the open plateau and at highlands of
1800 to 6000 meters with low or missing tree vegetation
(better speaking the tree line).
Fur:
~ the Irbis has a thick coat which has a look of whitish,
yellowish-light brown with grey splotch rosettes. One
mistook it for a Leopard through its coat mostly.
~ its thick coat reaches from the muzzle to the tail tip.
Even under the paws it formed to a protecting pad. So the
Irbis can move over snow surfaces well, without sink
completely in.
Proportion:
Length 95 to 130 cm (measured without the tail)
Shoulder height approx. 60 cm
Tail length 80 to 110 cm
Weight female 25 to 40 Kg
Weight male 45 to 75 Kg
Maximum Age:
~ the average age is around 15 years.
Reproduction:
~ the Irbis is a looner.
~ from Januar till March is the mating time. After a
pregnant time of 96 till 105 days usually they get 2 to 5
cups. The cups are blind the first 7 to 10 days. The
female hide its cups in crevice during the first 6 to 8
weeks and suckle them. Afterwards they get solid food and
the cups accompanies its mother through the territory. Up
to an age of 5 months they were suckle in addition. After
one year the young animals has to leave their mother and
has to look for its own territory.
Diet/hunt:
~ independet of the time of day the irbis is hunting.
Their menu extends from blue sheep, ibex, screw goats,
musk animals, wild boar, yaks, thar, serau over whistling
rabbits, marmot, pheasants and snow chickens, even pets.
Interesting information:
~ The scientists dispute about the name of the snow
leopard. In former times it was classified to the species
Panthera uncia, thus a member of the big cats. Now
it has its own genus designation, Uncia uncia. The
snow leopard, also mentioned Irbis, it is a
carnivore which is on the one hand a big cat as well as on
the other hand a small cat, because it has a biological
special position. It never roars like a big cat, but it
purrs and yelp like a small cat.
It also eats its food not in lying but more in crouching
(typically for small cats) position. The Iribis is shorter
and lighter than a Leopard, and named by the specialists
as "middle cat".
~ it can jump up to 15 meters with a single leap. This
cannot be imitated by a big cat.
~ in summer time you can find the Irbis over the timber
line. In winter one finds it below 1800 meters.
Class:
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Mammalia (Mammals) |
Order: |
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Carnivora (Carnivore) |
Family: |
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Felidae (Cats) |
Subspecies: |
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Pantherinae |
Species: |
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Panthera (Big Cats) |
Art: |
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Panthera uncia // Uncia uncia
(Snow Leopard / Iribis) |
(c) Annett Noack 2004 - 2021
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