Leopard

The leopard is one of the most elegant big cats of Africa and Asia. Its coat is golden yellow to ochre and covered with dense, rosette-shaped black spots. These rosettes are the best distinguishing feature from other big cats, as they are smaller and more closely spaced than in the jaguar. On the belly, chest and inner sides of the legs the fur is usually paler to whitish.

Leopards have a pronounced, athletic build with powerful shoulders, a long tail and a comparatively short head. Adult leopards are about 60 to 80 centimetres high and reach a length of around two metres including the long, ringed tail. You occasionally also encounter black leopards, so-called "panthers", whose rosettes can still be seen in the light.