The animal’s name derives from the Greek word leopardus, a combination of leon (lion) and pardus (panther). There are nine subspecies of leopards, which can be distinguished by the characteristics of their coat. Despite their names, the clouded leopard ( neofelis nebulosa) and snow leopard ( panthera uncial) are often considered separate species. A watery wonderland of coastal lagoons and bird-thronged wetlands, Bundala National Park speaks to lovers of all things aquatic. Flamingos (who number in the thousands) and crocodiles are the stars of the show, though vividly colorful bee-eaters and openbill storks will titillate the more discerning twitcher. Elephants are another draw – the high season around December is the best time to see the park's jumbos.

Liddell, H. G.& Scott, R. (1889). "λέο-πάρδος". A Greek–English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p.884. Leopards make a variety of sounds, including a territorial hoarse, raspy cough, a contented purr, and a threatening hiss. The leopard's rosettes differ from those of the jaguar ( Panthera onca), which are darker and with smaller spots inside. [10] The leopard has a diploid chromosome number of 38. [19]That’s how most people come in. And she is someone,” Evangeline sounded more defiant than sorry. “I need the help.” Evangeline?” It was a demand. Nothing less. She couldn’t hire someone, as she clearly had done, without following protocol. They are fantastic jumpers and can leap up to 50 feet down cliffs and have been recorded jumping 30 feet from a standing position. When he stepped past her to get to the stalls, he inhaled instinctively. She smelled faintly of grapefruit and fresh cut cypress. Who smelled like that? Evidently, he liked it, or more importantly, his leopard did. Usually, if he got too close to a human being, male or female, his leopard raged, wanting to kill. Needing to draw blood. For the first time, the cat went entirely quiet. That never happened. As in— never. Even when he was close to Evangeline and his leopard settled, the cat was never like this. Quiet. Almost purring. Maybe it’s Evangeline,” Timur pointed out, but he knew it wasn’t. He knew it was Ashe. His leopard was practically purring.

She’s scared,” Gorya mouthed the words around his coffee cup. “My leopard went quiet, just the way it does when Evangeline is close.”

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Kittle, A. M.; Watson, A. C.; Chanaka Kumara, P. H. & Nimalka Sanjeewani, H. K. (2014). "Status and distribution of the leopard in the central hills of Sri Lanka". Cat News (56): 28−31.

Ortolani, A. (1999). "Spots, stripes, tail tips and dark eyes: predicting the function of carnivore colour patterns using the comparative method". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 67 (4): 433–476. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1999.tb01942.x. He tapped the table, watching the sidewalk. He wanted a home, just like any other man might want, but he knew that was impossible for him. Fyodor had found Evangeline, but they were still in a kind of prison and always would be. There was really no place anyone could hide anymore without being found. They had all known it was a matter of time before their crimes caught up with them. Timur wasn’t going to have a wife and children. He would never have a home or feel a woman’s touch on his skin. Not again. Not when they were hunted like animals. Prater, S. H. (1921). "Record Panther Skull ( P. p. pardus)". The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. XXVII (Part IV): 933–935. a b Davis, B. W.; Li, G. & Murphy, W. J. (2010). "Supermatrix and species tree methods resolve phylogenetic relationships within the big cats, Panthera (Carnivora: Felidae)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 56 (1): 64–76. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.01.036. PMID 20138224. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05.Gal Oya is a wilderness of tumbling mountains and ancient woodland surrounding a huge, island-filled lake. The few tourists who come here are rewarded with unique experiences. The Gal Oya Lodge runs boat safaris where you can spot crocodiles, turtles, and swimming elephants, as well as immersive walks around the forest guided by members of the local Veddah community. a b c d e f g Hunter, L.; Henschel, P. & Ray, J. C. (2013). " Panthera pardus Leopard". In Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M. & Kalina, J. (eds.). Mammals of Africa. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp.159–168. ISBN 978-1-4081-8996-2. Numerous conservation groups, local wildlife parks, and conservation laws, such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Commission on International Trade, are working to protect leopards. To protect these endangered leopard species, scientists and researchers are working to monitor and survey these big cats. In 2002, trail cameras were added to allow conservation scientists to identify individual leopards by their unique spot patterns and monitor them over many years. Used year-round, the images uncover the secret lives of these cats walking, stalking, and rolling playfully on the ground. a b c d e Sunquist, M. E. & Sunquist, F. (2002). "Leopard Panthera pardus". Wild Cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp.318–342. ISBN 978-0-226-77999-7.