The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is a leopard subspecies native to the Primorye region of southeastern Russia and northern China. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as in 2007, only 19–26 wild leopards were estimated to survive in southeastern Russia and northeastern China.

It is rather small in body size, with males larger than females. The North Chinese leopard was first described on the basis of a single tanned skin which was fulvous above, and pale beneath, with large, roundish, oblong black spots on the back and limbs, and small black spots on the head.

Body and Coloration: These small-sized leopards have thick, soft fur alongside widely spaced rosettes or black spots covering their head, tail, legs, and back. Their coat color changes seasonally, light yellow in winter to a deep reddish-yellow during summer.

Of all the leopards, the Amur leopard is the most critically endangered. Hunted largely for its beautiful, spotted fur, the loss of each Amur leopard puts the species at greater risk of extinction. Support WWF in its efforts to protect the species and its habitat.

Amur leopards can be found in the mountainous forests of eastern Russia and northern China. Named after the Amur River, a body of water that runs along the border of both countries, these...

Description: The Amur leopard is adapted to the cool climate by having thick fur which grows up to 7.5 cm long in winter. For camouflage in the snow, their coat is paler than other leopard subspecies. The Amur leopard’s rosettes are widely spaced and larger than those seen on …

Learn more about the Amur Leopard at the Animal Facts. Here you can discover their diet, lifespan, habitat, appearance, breeding and behaviour.

Physically, Amur leopards are sturdy big cats with a muscular build. They have a long body with relatively short legs and a broad head. Their eyes range from a light yellowish shade to a piercing green. The tail of an Amur leopard is long, helping to provide balance.

Amur leopards are medium-sized big cats with muscular builds that make them incredibly agile. Adult males typically weigh between 32-48 kg (70-105 lbs), while females are slightly smaller, weighing between 25-42 kg (55-93 lbs).

The Amur leopard, also known as the Far Eastern leopard, show the strongest and most consistent divergence in pattern. The coat of the Amur leopard is fairly soft with long and dense hair and the color varies from a fairly light yellow to dense yellowish-red in winter and a brighter more vivid coloration in summer.