Neofelis nebulosa / Panthera uncia
Clouded Leopard vs Snow Leopard
Despite the shared name, clouded leopards and snow leopards are different Asian cats: the smaller clouded leopard is a forest climber with cloud-shaped blotches, while the larger snow leopard is a thick-coated cat of high mountains.
By Wildlife Encyclopedia · Updated
At a glance
Published species data from both WildlifeDB profiles, aligned trait by trait. Size metrics highlight the larger value with a relative bar.
- Scientific name
- Clouded LeopardNeofelis nebulosa
- Snow LeopardPanthera uncia
- Classification
- Clouded LeopardMammalia · Felidae
- Snow LeopardMammalia · Felidae
- Native range
- Clouded LeopardAsia
- Snow LeopardAsia
- Primary habitat
- Clouded LeopardForest
- Snow LeopardGrassland
- Diet
- Clouded LeopardCarnivore
- Snow LeopardCarnivore
- Typical food
- Clouded LeopardDeer, Primates, Wild pigs, Birds, Squirrels
- Snow LeopardBlue sheep, Himalayan tahr, Ibex, Marmot, Hare
- Body length
- Clouded Leopard69 cm – 108 cm
- Snow Leopard3 feet – 4.5 feet
- Shoulder height
- Clouded Leopard—
- Snow Leopard1.7 feet – 2 feet
- Weight
- Clouded Leopard11.5 kg – 23 kg
- Snow Leopard55 pounds – 120 pounds
- Top speed
- Clouded LeopardAgile climber rather than a fast runner
- Snow LeopardUp to 40 mph in short bursts
- Wild lifespan
- Clouded LeopardNot well documented in the wild
- Snow Leopard10 to 12 years
- Social pattern
- Clouded LeopardClimbing and resting in trees, Hunting mostly at night, Living a solitary life outside breeding
- Snow LeopardSolitary, Crepuscular activity, Territory marking
- Key adaptations
- Clouded LeopardVery long upper canine teeth relative to skull size, Flexible ankle joints that rotate for headfirst descent, A long tail that acts as a counterbalance in trees
- Snow LeopardThick spotted fur, Wide nasal cavity, Long bushy tail
- Conservation
- Clouded LeopardVulnerable · Decreasing
- Snow LeopardVulnerable · Decreasing
- Reproduction
- Clouded LeopardAbout 85 to 95 days; 1 to 5 cubs, usually 3
- Snow LeopardAbout 90 to 100 days; 2 to 3 cubs per litter
Overview
The clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, and the snow leopard, Panthera uncia, are both wild cats of Asia, but they are not close relatives and neither is a true leopard. The clouded leopard belongs to its own genus, Neofelis, while the snow leopard is a member of Panthera, the genus of the big cats.
Their coats set them apart at a glance. The clouded leopard has large, cloud-shaped dark blotches on a tan coat. The snow leopard has a pale, smoky-grey coat patterned with dark rosettes and a very long, thick tail, camouflage for a life among snow and rock.
Size
The snow leopard is the larger cat. It has a head-and-body length of roughly 0.9 to 1.3 metres and weighs about 25 to 55 kg. The clouded leopard is smaller, around 69 to 108 cm in head and body length and 11.5 to 23 kg.
Both have notably long tails for balance, and the clouded leopard has the longest canine teeth relative to skull size of any living cat, giving it an outsized bite for its modest body.
Behavior
Both are solitary, secretive, and hard to observe in the wild. The clouded leopard is one of the most arboreal of all cats, able to climb down trunks headfirst and even hang from a branch by its hind feet. The snow leopard is a ground-dwelling mountain specialist that uses its long tail for balance on steep terrain and wraps it around the body for warmth while resting.
Neither cat roars like a lion or tiger; both communicate with other calls.
Diet
Both are carnivores that ambush their prey. The clouded leopard takes deer, wild pigs, primates, birds, and squirrels in the forest, hunting on the ground and in the trees. The snow leopard preys mainly on mountain herbivores such as blue sheep, ibex, and Himalayan tahr, along with marmots and hares, and can kill animals several times its own weight.
Both rely on stealth and a short, powerful rush rather than a long chase.
Habitat
Habitat is the sharpest divide between them. The clouded leopard lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of South and Southeast Asia, from the Himalayan foothills through the mainland. The snow leopard lives high in the mountains of Central and South Asia, in alpine meadows, cliffs, and cold rocky slopes, often above the tree line.
Both are listed as Vulnerable and both are threatened by habitat loss and poaching, the clouded leopard for its skin and the snow leopard for its fur and bones as well as conflict with herders.