Clouded Leopard Skull Replica

Description

Clouded leopard skull replica measures 6.7 x 4.4 x 3.1 inches. The Neofelis nebulosa skull is a museum-quality polyurethane resin cast of a California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium & mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

The clouded leopard is a wild cat that lives from the Himalayan foothills through mainland Southeast Asia. It also ranges into southern China.

This cat has dark grey fur with a black and dusky-grey blotched pattern. Black spots cover its head, and the ears look entirely black. Broken stripes run from the eye corners over the cheeks and down to the neck. Long blotches continue down the spine and form a single stripe on the lower back.

Two large dark marks sit on the side of the shoulders. These marks turn into irregular spots on the front legs. Irregular cloudy shapes mark the flanks and give the cat its English name. The belly and legs have solid spots, while the tail has large paired markings. They have short stout legs and broad paws.

Clouded leopards are strict carnivores that hunt a wide variety of animals. They stalk their prey and use tree branches to ambush targets. It eats primates like monkeys, macaques, and gibbons. This predator also catches wild pigs, porcupines, squirrels and birds.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Suborder: Feliformia
• Family: Felidae
• Subfamily: Pantherinae
• Genus: Neofelis
• Species: N. nebulosa
• Binomial name: Neofelis nebulosa
• Conservation status: Vulnerable

Puff, the clouded leopard skull replica, splashes into the cool water of the creek. She pulls a smooth, milk-white quartz stone from the bed of the creek.

Spotty, the African leopard male skull replica, wades through the shallow water right next to her. He turns over a large slate rock and finds a sparkling diamond.

Snowy, the snow leopard skull replica, is resting on the mossy bank. She is counting all the pretty stones she has found so far today.

Pebbles, the leopard cat skull replica, is walking over the overpass reading all of the graffiti and just tripped over a huge bright blue stone.