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The Persian leopard (''Panthera pardus ciscaucasica'' syn. ''Panthera pardus saxicolor''), also called the Caucasian leopard or Central Asian leopard, is the largest leopard subspecies native to the Caucasus region, southern Turkmenistan, and parts of western Afghanistan. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List; the population is estimated at fewer than 871–1,290 mature individuals and considered declining. Leopards possibly also occur in northern Iraq.〔Al-Sheikhly, O. F. (2012). The hunting of endangered mammals in Iraq. Wildlife Middle East 6: 2–3.〕 A phylogenetic analysis suggests that the Persian leopard matrilineally belongs to a monophyletic group that diverged from a group of Asian leopards in the second half of the Pleistocene. ==Characteristics== The Persian leopard is large, weighing up to , and light in color.〔Lukarevsky, V., Malkhasyan, A., Askerov, E. (2007). ''Biology and ecology of the leopard in the Caucasus''. Cat News 2: 4–8〕 They vary in colouration; both pale and dark individuals are found in Iran.〔 The medium length of the body is , of the tail , and of the skull .〔Satunin, K. A. (1914). ''Leopardus pardus ciscaucasicus'', Satunin. Conspectus Mammalium Imperii Rossici I. Tiflis: 159–160.〕 Biometric data collected from 25 female and male individuals in various provinces of Iran indicates average body length of . A young male from northern Iran weighed .〔Sanei, A. (2007). (''Analysis of leopard (Panthera pardus) status in Iran'' (No.1) ). Sepehr Publication Center, Tehran. Pp. 298 (In Persian)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「persian leopard」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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