Leopard Size

Leopards vary greatly in size depending on where they live and what they eat. In general, leopards living in open areas are larger than those living in forests and leopards that hunt larger prey are bigger than those which feed on smaller prey. Leopards living in tropical forests are usually the smallest of their species. Their smaller size helps them move more easily through the trees. The largest leopards, called Persian leopards, live in Middle and western Asia. Their large size is important because it helps them stay warm in the cold climate.

Leopards are the smallest members of the great cat family. They are less than half the weight of tigers or lions. Adult leopards stand up to 28 inches (71 cm) tall at the shoulder and measure up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) long from head to tail. The tail is usually about two to three feet (0.6 to 0.9 m) long. The male leopards weigh up to 200 pounds (91 kg); females, up to 150 pounds (68 kg). Females are usually about a half to two-third the size of males.