Fun Facts about Snow Leopards

•The snow leopard isn’t even a leopard. In terms of genetics, snow leopards are more closely related to tigers than they are to leopards, despite their eerie resemblance.

•Snow leopards have evolved to make their bodies better suited to their frigid habitat. They are stocky cats with short legs and short, rounded ears that help prevent the loss of body heat. They also have wide nasal cavities to heat the air they breathe before it reaches their lungs.

•Snow leopard fur is incredibly thick– up to five inches– to better insulate them in the snow. This fur also covers their large paws, which function almost like snowshoes, making it easier for them to walk and stalk their prey in the snow.

•This thick snow leopard coat is colored to match the icy environment. Typically, they have a white-gray coat with black rosettes that provide the ideal camouflage, and their belly is pure white.

•Another intriguing adaptation is that its tail is exceptionally long (around 3 feet) and large compared with other cats because they use their tails to cover sensitive areas to keep them warm. Their tails also store fat when food is more difficult to find.