IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Lukarevsky, V.; Malkhasyan, A.; Askerov, E. | |
| Biology and ecology of the leopard in the Caucasus | |
| 2007 Cat News (Special Issue 2): 9-14 | |
The Caucasus leopard is large, weighing up to 60 kg, and light in colour. The taxonomy has been confused, with at least three named forms reportedly occurring in the area. It is now considered that all leopards occurring in the Caucasus, northern Iran and Turkmenistan, are a single form, referred to here as _Panthera pardus saxicolor_. Very little field research has been conducted on the biology and ecology of leopards in the Caucasus. Estimates of abundance range from 0.4 individuals/100km2 based on scat analyses to 1 per 100 km2. Anecdotal reports indicate that one male overlaps the ranges of 2-3 females. Leopards in the Caucasus often move along mountain ridges that offer a wide view of the surrounding area and frequently make use of established paths. A dietary study based on scat analysis showed that wild boar formed the main prey in south Armenia. Wild ungulates are generally considered to constitute the main prey, along with smaller mammals such as hares and porcupines and game birds. Habitat consists of subalpine meadows, broadleaved forests and rugged ravines from 600-3,800m in the Greater Caucasus and rocky slopes, mountain steppes, and sparse juniper forests in the Lesser Caucasus and Iran. |
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