Female snow leopard

Unlike other snow leopards, she is clearly homosexual and is attracted to females.

The snow leopard (irbis) feeds primarily on ungulates, such as mountain goats and sheep, Siberian roe deer, and wild boar. Its diet also includes rodents, hares, birds, and, in summer, plant foods such as grass and young shoots. Main loot: Mountain goats: Siberian ibex, argali and other mountain goat species make up the bulk of the diet. Sheep: Various species of mountain sheep are also an important food source. Roe deer and wild boars: In the foothills, the snow leopard also hunts these animals. Additional food: Rodents: Marmots, gophers, and other small rodents may be included in the diet, especially if larger prey cannot be caught. Birds: The diet also includes chukars, snowcocks and other birds. Plant food: During the summer, snow leopards may eat grass and green parts of plants to supplement their meat diet. Hunting features: The snow leopard hunts from ambush, using its agility and strength to take down even prey larger than itself. Basic prey can feed a snow leopard for several days. In hungry years, snow leopards may hunt domestic animals.

The snow leopard is a characteristic representative of the fauna of the high rocky mountains of Central and Middle Asia. Among the large cats, the snow leopard is the only permanent inhabitant of the highlands.[10] It primarily inhabits alpine meadows, treeless cliffs, rocky areas, stony scree, steep gorges, and is often encountered in snowy zones. However, in some areas, the snow leopard lives at much lower altitudes, inhabiting areas of arboreal and shrubby vegetation.

Inhabiting the upper reaches of high mountains, snow leopards prefer areas of small, open plateaus, gentle slopes, and narrow valleys covered with alpine vegetation, interspersed with rocky gorges, rock piles, and scree. The ridges where snow leopards typically roost are typically characterized by steep slopes, deep gorges, and rock outcrops. Snow leopards can also be found in more level areas, where shrubs and scree provide shelter for resting. Snow leopards primarily stay above the tree line, but can also be found in forests (more often in winter).

The snow leopard's habitat encompasses biotopes located between 1,500 and 4,000 meters above sea level. It is sometimes found at the edge of the perpetual snow line, and in the Pamirs, in the upper reaches of the Alichur River, its tracks have been found several times even in winter at an altitude of 4,500–5,000 meters above sea level. In the Himalayas, the snow leopard has been recorded at an altitude of 5,400–6,000 meters above sea level and below 2,000–2,500 meters above sea level. In summer, it most often stays at an altitude of 4,000–4,500 meters above sea level.[7]

The snow leopard, also known as the irbis, is a large predatory mammal of the cat family that lives in the mountains of Central Asia. It lives exclusively in cold climates. The snow leopard is distinguished by its thin, long, flexible body, relatively short legs, a small head, and a very long tail. The body is very elongated and squat, slightly raised at the sacrum. The length of the body with the head is 103–130 cm, the length of the tail itself is 80–105 cm.[7][8] The height at the shoulder is about 60 cm.[8] Males are somewhat larger than females.[19][20] Body weight is 22–40 kg.[7] The length of the hind foot is 22–26 cm.[7]

The fur is long, very dense, and soft, reaching up to 55 mm (2.1 in) long on the back.[8] It provides protection from the cold, harsh conditions of the environment. The snow leopard's fur density distinguishes it from all other big cats and is more similar to smaller cats.[7]

The general background colour of the fur is brownish-grey without any yellow or reddish tint[8] (a yellowish tint to the fur was noted in some individuals that died in captivity and may be an artifact[7]). The basic colour of the fur on the back and upper sides is light grey or greyish, almost white, with a smoky sheen. The lower sides, belly and inner parts of the limbs are lighter than the back. Scattered over the general light grey background are large, ring-shaped spots in the form of rosettes, within which there may be an even smaller spot, as well as small, solid spots of black or dark grey. The spotted pattern is relatively pale, formed by vague spots, the diameter of the largest of which reaches from 5 cm[8] to 7–8 cm[7]. Solid spots of varying sizes are located on the head (the smallest of these), neck, and legs (larger ones, tapering to smaller spots below), where ring spots are absent. On the back, the spots sometimes merge together, forming short longitudinal stripes. A few small solid spots are located between the ring spots. Large solid spots on the terminal half of the tail often encircle the tail laterally in an incomplete ring.