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Science Daily — Scientists have discovered that the clouded leopard found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra is an entirely new species of cat. The secretive rainforest animal was originally thought to be the same species as the one found in mainland Southeast Asia. 

Genetic analysis conducted at the U.S. National Cancer Institute shows that the difference between the two clouded leopard species is comparable to the differences between other large cat species like lions, tigers, and jaguars.  Scientists believe the new species of clouded leopard diverged from the mainland population some 1.4 million years ago.

"Genetic research results clearly indicate that the clouded leopards of Borneo and Sumatra should be considered a separate species," said Dr Stephen O'Brien, Head of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, U.S. National Cancer Institute. "DNA tests highlighted around 40 differences between the two species."

The results of the genetic study are supported by separate research on geographical variation in the clouded leopard, based mainly on fur patterns and coloration of skins held in museums and collections.

"The moment we started comparing the skins of the mainland clouded leopard and the leopard found on Borneo and Sumatra, it was clear we were comparing two different species," said Dr Andrew Kitchener, from the Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland and lead author of the scientific paper that described the new species. "It's incredible that no one has ever noticed these differences."

The new clouded leopard species is generally darker than the mainland species, has small cloud markings, many distinct spots within the cloud markings, grayer fur, and a double dorsal stripe. Clouded leopards from the mainland have large clouds on their skin with fewer, often faint, spots within the cloud markings, and they are lighter in color, with a tendency toward tawny-colored fur and a partial double dorsal stripe.

"Who said a leopard can never change its spots?  For over a hundred years we have been looking at this animal and never realized it was unique," said Adam Tomasek, head of WWF's Borneo and Sumatra program. "The fact that Borneo's top predator is now considered a separate species further emphasizes the uniqueness of the island and the importance of conserving the Heart of Borneo."

Clouded leopards are the biggest predators on Borneo.  Some grow to be as large as a small panther, and have the longest canine teeth relative to body size of any cat.  Sumatran tigers are the largest predators on Sumatra.

Between 5,000 and 11,000 clouded leopards are estimated to live on Borneo. The total number in Sumatra could be in the range of 3,000 to 7,000 individuals.  However, further studies are needed to obtain better population data.  Habitat destruction is the cat's main threat.

The last great forest home of the Bornean Clouded Leopard is the Heart of Borneo, a wild, mountainous region of rainforest the size of Kansas.  WWF recently released a report showing that scientists had identified at least 52 new species of animals and plants over the past year on Borneo.

Last month in Bali (Indonesia), the ministers of the three Bornean governments - Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia - signed an historic Declaration to conserve and sustainably manage the Heart of Borneo.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by World Wildlife Fund.

Here's a link to a video of a clouded leopard cub:

http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Neofelis_nebulosa/Neofelis_nebulosa_00.html?movietype=rpMed

Range: Southeast Asia
Habitat: mostly tropical rain forest, sometimes in grassland,scrubland, and wetlands

Misc.: This species, like the snow leopard, is one of those that is somewhere between the small cats and the great cats in that it can’t purr like the small cats and it can’t roar like the true great cats.

The tree climbing talents of the clouded rival that of the Margay, running down trees head-first and climbing branches horizontally with its back towards the ground, and even hangs upside down by its hind legs. They are also quite adept at swimming and readily take to water.

Sub-Species: None

Size and Appearance: The clouded leopard gets its name from the distinctive cloud like markings on its body, head, legs and tail. The inside color of the clouds are darker than the background color, and sometimes they are dotted with small black spots. The pelt ranges from ochre to tawny to silver-gray. Black and pale white individuals have been reported in the wild. The legs and belly are marked with large back ovals and the back of the neck is marked with 2 thick black bars. The tail, which is as long as the head and body length, is thick and plush with black rings. This is a short legged cat with the hind legs being longer than the front. The clouded leopard has the longest canines relatively speaking than any other living cat. They weigh between 22-45 pounds.

In captivity, Clouded leopards have lived up to 17 years, and in the wild average 11 years.

Habitat: The clouded leopard is most associated with primary evergreen tropical rainforests, but sightings have made in secondary and logged forests as well as grassland and scrub and mangrove swamps. It has been recorded at elevations of as high as 3000 meters (9600 feet).

Distribution: Nepal through Indochina, Sumatra and Borneo.

Reproduction and Offspring: Little is known of the breeding habits of clouded leopards in the wild, but in captivity litters of 1-5 (average 3) are born after an average 93 day gestation. Less than 20% of captive Clouded Leopards have been successful at reproducing because the males tend to kill their females during mating.

Social System and Communication: Unknown.

Hunting and Diet: Clouded leopards are equally adept at hunting on the ground as they are in trees, but uses trees primarily as a resting place. Their diet includes birds, primates, small mammals, porcupines, deer and wild boar.

Status: IUCN Vulnerable. Appendix 1 CITES.

2003 Felid TAG recommendation: Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Clouded leopards are difficult to manage for breeding in captivity due to the propensity of some males to attack and sometimes kill females. Other pairs never breed. Thus, most of the captive population of zoo and privately owned animals is derived from only a few founders (perhaps as few as two to three individuals). The same husbandry problem and low founder size exists in Europe. While striving to achieve a target population of 120 spaces, the SSP is actively engaged in research to determine behavioral or husbandry cues that trigger aggression.  Currently the Clouded Leopard Consortium with Thai zoos are the main hope for the survival of this species.

How rare is this cat ?   The International Species Information Service lists 230 worldwide, with 118 being in the U.S.  There is one living on Easy Street. 

Information taken from IUCN Status Survey and Feline Facts (SOS Care) Clouded Leopard Photos

Read Big Cat Rescue's Daily Updates on Wildcats in the Wild at Field Projects

Update: Thursday 14 December 2006

For many years the clouded leopard was traditionally regarded as a monotypic genus with four subspecies. But recent molecular genetic
analyses (mtDNA, nuclear DNA sequences, microsatellite variation, and cytogenetic differences) have revealed that there is however a strong case for reclassification and the defining of two distinct species of clouded leopard - Neofelis nebulosa (mainland Asia) and Neofelis diardi (Indonesian archipelago). This case for two clouded leopard species based on genetic distinction that is equivalent to, or
greater than, comparable measures among other Panthera species (lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard) is also strongly supported by the geographical variation revealed by morphometric analyses of the pelage (coat colour and patterns) between clouded leopard in Mainland Asia and in Indonesia (Borneo and Sumatra); again providing a compelling case for reclassification into two distinct species N. nebulosa and N. diardi. Paper abstracts follow:

--

Valerie A. Buckley-Beason, Warren E. Johnson, Willliam G. Nash, Roscoe Stanyon, Joan C. Menninger, Carlos A. Driscoll, JoGayle Howard, Mitch Bush, John E. Page, Melody E. Roe  [

Few people have seen a clouded leopard, either in its wild leopard. Cloudeds are most closely related to snow leopards and are now in the same taxonomic subfamily as tigers, lions, jaguars, and true leopard species.

Clouded leopards are an interesting species. They are larger than small cat species and smaller than the large cats! Cloudeds can purr like the small cats, but they also have a low, moaning roar, a soft chuffle, a growl, a hiss, and meows as part of their calls. The pupils of the clouded leopards’ eyes are different from any other cats’ pupils: they never get fully round like big cats’ pupils do, yet they never shrink to vertical slits like the small cats’ pupils do. Instead, they stay in an oblong shape. And then there’s that amazing tail—the longest, in relation to body size, of any cat's tail.

A clouded leopard’s jaws can open wider than any other cat’s, and its tooth development is most like that of the extinct saber-toothed tiger. A clouded’s 2-inch-long (5-centimeter-long) rain forest cats birds, squirrels, monkeys, and wild pigs. The San Diego Zoo’s clouded leopards are fed a zoo carnivore diet and large knuckle bones to gnaw on. They are often given a special popsicle treat: chunks of papaya frozen in ice blocks!

In areas where clouded leopards share their habitat with tigers and common leopards, cloudeds seem to be more nocturnal and arboreal in their habits. A long, thick tail provides balance in the trees. Their flexible ankle joints can rotate backward, allowing the cat to climb down tree trunks headfirst. Cloudeds can climb upside down along branches and can hang by the back feet alone, which frees the front paws to snatch at prey. On islands or in other areas where there are no larger cats, clouded leopards are more active during the day and spend more time on the ground.

Like any newborn kitten, clouded leopard cubs are small and helpless at birth. Their eyes are closed, they have no teeth, and they are not able to walk. But at about two weeks of age their eyes open, and a week later the teeth start to emerge and they begin to walk on wobbly legs. By the time they are six months old they are fully weaned and have the full adult coloration.

Considering its size, the clouded leopard is very secretive and has been difficult for researchers to study in the wild. It is believed the cats live solitary lives, unless a mother is caring for cubs. Never common, its population numbers are dropping outside of protected areas. Its rain forest habitat is often divided into small, unconnected patches of forest. As is true of all rain forest dwellers, the clouded leopards’ main threat to survival is continued habitat loss from a growing number of farms. And although they are protected by law, cloudeds are still hunted for their beautiful coat, and some Asian cultures believe clouded leopard bones and teeth have healing powers.

Clouded leopard,  Panthèr longibande(Fr); Pantera nebulosa(Sp) 

IUCN: Vulnerable (VU C2a; (i))
CITES: Appendix I

• IUCN Cat Specialist Group

Habits and Habitat
Little is known about the clouded leopard, due to their extremely elusive nature and arboreal habits. Clouded leopards are thought to be nocturnal, although some believe they may be active during parts of the day as well. Much of our knowledge comes from observing them in captivity and from early naturalists, professional hunters and game guards.

The main habitat of the clouded leopard is the primary lowland of Southeast Asia, but the cat can also be found further north in China's Yangtze River and west to the Himalayan foothills. Because of its behavior however, no population statistics exist. While clouded leopards are primarily a mountain species, small numbers were recently sighted in Royal Chitwan National Park.

Threats
The clouded leopard is listed as "vulnerable" under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and under Appendix I of CITES. Widespread destruction and fragmentation of habitat is major threat to clouded leopards, as is poaching for pelts and for use in traditional Asian medicines.

More information on Clouded leopards...
The Clouded Leopard Project

Thanks so much Sid for all the wonderful info on my favorite: The Clouded Leopard. I already support the Clouded Leopard Project.

Chris

Sid, 

Thanks for the info.  I had never heard of a Clouded Leopard.  What an awesome animal.

Erika
Erika S.

A clouded leopard is at home in trees

Clouded leopards are not truly leopards at all but they spend a lot deal of time in trees, just as the true leopards of Africa do.

Where do clouded leopards live?

Areas where the clouded leopards live are colored green

Clouded leopards live throughout southern China, the eastern Himalayan Mountains, south-east Asia, and some parts of Indonesia. They prefer to live in tropical or subtropical forests, yet they are can also be found living in mangrove swamps and grasslands.

A clouded leopard at the San Antonio zoo

At adult age a clouded leopard will range from somewhere between two and a half feet, nose to rump, to three and a half feet. The clouded leopard has short legs for its size. It also has the longest canine teeth (2 inch fangs) for any similarly sized cat species that lives today. Only the extinct sabretooth cats had longer canine teeth for their body size.

Clouded leopards are excellent climbers and their major prey animals live in trees. Short, flexible legs, large paws, and keen claws combine to make them very sure-footed in this environment. The clouded leopard's tail can be as long as its body and helps to maintain the cat's balance while moving through the trees. Amazingly, these cats can hang upside-down under branches, and can even climb down tree trunks head-first. Other cats cannot do this because their claws are not shaped in the same way.

The beautiful pattern of the clouded leopard's fur is its most interesting feature. The large square rosettes look like clouds to some people, and that is how they got the name "clouded leopard." Other people think the blotches look more like mint leaves, so they are also called "mint leopards."

edit] What do clouded leopards eat, and how do they catch their prey?

While not much is known about their behaviour in the wild, their prey is thought to be mostly mammals that live in trees, particularly monkeys, along with small mammals, deer, birds, porcupines, and domestic livestock.

See how much you know about the clouded leopard:

• They can climb down tree trunks head first.
• Like marbled cats and margays, they will sometimes hang head-down from branches using their hind legs.
• Young clouded leopards are born with spots that become open squares as they grow older.

Hi,here's a videolink of a Clouded Leopard,enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPneaOccsIU

Malachi

Male Clouded Leopard came to Big Cat Rescue as a temporary boarder.  He seemed to enjoy Life on Easy Street!  There are only 195 Clouded Leopards in captivity and of those only 111 in the SSP breeding program.  At the 1999 Felid TAG meeting it was revealed by a study conducted on 32 Clouded Leopards, something we have believed all along:  Cats that are hand raised are much happier and less stressed in captivity.  Penny Andrews was instrumental in supplying data for this research.

Sadly, Malachi died from Aden carcinoma, a incurable cancer in June 2000. He didn't suffer as you can see from these photos below taken the week before his diagnosis.

Clouded Leopard

The clouded leopard is sufficiently distinct from other members of the Felidae family, due mainly to the unique shape of its skull, to be placed in a separate genus - Neofelis. Outwardly the cat is immediately recognizable by its distinctive coat patterning.

Zoological Name: Neofelis nebulosa

Physical appearance: The wondrously patterned markings of the clouded leopard give this felid an wizardly ability to traverse its forest environment in an almost ghostlike fashion. Chinese culture describes the coat pattern as resembling mint leaves, resulting in the name "mint leopard." Malaysians call it the "tree tiger" because it is often seen resting in the branches of jungle trees. The clouded leopard is distinct from other members of the felids and stands alone in its own genus as Neofelis nebulosa, literally the new cat with a cloudy pelt. The ground color of the body is grey, earthy brown, or yellowish brown on its back, shading to white or pale tawny on its underside.

Distribution: Spotted in the forest regions of eastern Nepal, northeast India, southeast Asia, southern China, Taiwan and Borneo, the clouded leopard is specialized for arboreal living, although it is assumed to be a mainly terrestrial cat in most of its habitat. Included in these specializations is the ability to climb slowly down a vertical trunk headfirst, rather than the hindquarters first method, as utilized by most other felids.

Species:
Four subspecies have been described:
N. n. nebulosa South China, Indo-China
N. n. brachyurus Taiwan (Extinct?)
N. n. diardi Borneo
N. n. macrosceloides Nepal to Burma

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