Nighttime is the right time for this dangerous cat. The leopard hunts under the cover of darkness, when its distinctive spotted fur blends into its darkened surroundings. The big cat uses super-senses to help it home in on victims, and likes to roam a wide range-it can cover 15 miles on a night out on the prowl. The leopard is also an expert climber, and often carries its heavy victims up into trees where it can eat in peace.
Spotty Stalker: The leopard's golden coat is covered with black and brown spots, which gives it perfect camouflage for ambush-style hunting in forests and grasslands. Special pads on the hunter's feet keep its footsteps quiet so its victims don't hear the cat as it's stalking them.
All Terrain: One of the keys to the leopard's success is its ability to survive in a wide variety of habitats. This big cat thrives in jungles, high up on mountains, in the snow and even on the fringes of deserts.
In the Dark[]
The leopard pulls up a dead monkey so it can eat without being disturbed.
Thanks to super-sensitive senses, the leopard can prowl for food at night and snag a meal in the dark. With highly acute hearing and vision, this predator stalks across a variety of terrains, and the big cat doesn't need a trace of moonlight to track down a victim-the darker the better. The leopard often will creep up on a herd of grazing animals, such as gazelles, and grab one without ever being seen. One bite from the leopard's powerful jaws finishes the job.
High Life: The leopard is an expert climber and spends much of its time up in trees. The animal rests between branches during the day, and even stores leftover meat from its kills in high branches where scavengers can't reach it.
Stake Out: Leopards need a lot of room to hunt-about 10 square miles. A male's territory may overlap with that of several females, but if another male enters, the two will fight fiercely over the right to hunt in the area.
A Real Creep[]
- Stalking an impala deep in its territory, a leopard creeps quietly through the tall grass, never taking its eyes off of its potential meal as it sneaks ever closer.
- When in range, the leopard bursts out of the grass in a powerful pounce, grabbing the impala with its sharp claws and delivering a fatal bite to the victim's neck.
- The leopard takes the dead animal in its mouth and lugs its heavy carcass into a tree. There the big cat can eat without worry of being challenged for the meat.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The leopard is mentioned or shown on several other cards:
- It is used as a modern comparison for the Dinofelis and Thylacoleo on their knowledge cards.
- It is mentioned as a predator of the Impala and Aardvark on their knowledge cards, and referenced as a possible one for the Pangolin.
- The Wild Boar knowledge card mentions it being attacked by the pig in defense, while the Warthog is outright shown attacking them in an illustration.
- A King Baboon Spider bites a cub on the nose after it gets too close in the spider's multi-paneled illustration.
- The Mandrill knowledge card mentions how the primate will chase off this cat.
- It's referenced as a size comparison for the Thylacosmilus, and a strength comparison for the Mngwa.
- They’re mentioned as prey for the Indian Python on the snake’s trading card.
- As the origin of its name, the leopard is mentioned on the Leopard Seal card.
- It is one of the two big cats that can become a Black Panther.
- The series of images for "A Real Creep" are also used in the Wildlife Explorer series card for the leopard; here, titled "Treetop Larder", there is a bonus fourth image of the impala being slung over a tree branch as the leopard stands over it.
- The leopard is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in Super-Senses on Monster Mania 45.
- The leopard's trading card is featured in the Monster Recharge explanation for Nightmares of Nature on Monster Mania 84.
- It is pit against the Mountain Gorilla in a Smack Down on Monster Mania 85.