Liberia Leopard Crown 1995 BU

Leopards are found over a wider area than any of the other large cats. Ranging across most of the African continent with the exception of desert regions, parts of Asia Minor and the Middle East to India, Pakistan, China, Siberia, much of mainland and offshore islands of southeast Asia. There are more than 20 subspecies and are included in the genus Panthera. It is one of the roaring cats, capable of producing a deep sawing roar similar to that of the jaguar. The leopard is also like the jaguar in coat pattern, with dark spots or rosettes. The size of the leopard varies greatly from region to region. There are subspecies of large leopards in Iran and West Africa and small subspecies in Somalia and Java. The leopard averages between five and eight feet in length and weighs from 60 to 210 pounds in the wild. Distribution of the leopard reflects the diverse adaptability of the group, extending throughout the African continent and much of southeast Asia, including the Arabian peninsula and Indonesian islands. It is at home in woodlands, lowland forests and mountain heights, savannas, and even dry steppe habitats. The leopard’s remarkable adaptability to different environments is an indication that it is basically an unspecialized animal, favoring forest and forest boundary habitats where it can utilize trees for protection and observation platforms.