Sinai leopard
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| Sinai Leopard | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Genus: | Panthera |
| Species: | P. pardus |
| Subspecies: | P. p. jarvisi |
| Trinomial name | |
| Panthera pardus jarvisi Pocock, 1932 |
|
The Sinai Leopard is a subspecies of leopard found in the Sinai peninsula and the mountains near Eilat. It has been described as a distinct leopard subspecies (Panthera pardus jarvisi), however genetic analysis indicate that it belongs to the Persian leopard subspecies (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica)[1]. It is much smaller than the African Leopard and prefers to hunt birds, mice, and rock hyrax[citation needed]; however, it will eat ibexes and other small livestock if they are available.
The Bedouin have likely hunted it into extinction. It is not known if there are any left living in the wild.
[edit] References
- ^ Miththapala, Sriyanie; Seidensticker, John; O'Brien, Stephen J. (August 1996). "Phylogeographic Subspecies Recognition in Leopards (P. pardus): Molecular Genetic Variation.". Conservation Biology 10 (4): 1115–1132. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1996.10041115.x. http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1996.10041115.x. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
