Editing Clouded leopard (section)

== Behaviour and ecology ==
[[File:Nimbus-0975.jpg|thumb|In the [[San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium]], [[Texas]], US]]
The clouded leopard is a solitary cat. Early accounts depict it as a rare, secretive, [[arboreal]], and [[nocturnal]] inhabitant of dense [[primary forest]].<ref name=Guggisberg1975/>

It is one of the most talented climbers among the cats. Captive clouded leopards have been observed to climb down vertical tree trunks head first, and hang on to branches with their hind paws bent around branchings of tree limbs.<ref name=Hemmer1968/> They are capable of [[supination]] and can hang down from branches only by bending their hind paws and their tail around them. They can jump up to {{cvt|1.2|m}} high.<ref name=Hemmer1968>{{cite journal |last1=Hemmer |first1=H. |year=1968 |title=Untersuchungen zur Stammesgeschichte der Pantherkatzen (Pantherinae) II: Studien zur Ethologie des Nebelparders ''Neofelis nebulosa'' (Griffith 1821) und des Irbis ''Uncia uncia'' (Schreber 1775) |trans-title=Researching the phylogenetic history of the Pantherinae II: Studies into the ethology of the clouded leopard ''Neofelis nebulosa'' and snow leopard ''Uncia uncia''|journal=Veröffentlichungen der Zoologischen Staatssammlung München |volume=12 |pages=155–247 |url=https://archive.org/stream/verfentlichungen121968zool#page/n209/mode/2up}}</ref>
They use trees as daytime rest sites, but also spend time on the ground when hunting at night. Captive clouded leopards have been observed to [[scent mark]] by [[urine spraying|spraying urine]] and [[scent rubbing|rubbing their heads]] on prominent objects.<ref name=WCoW/>
Their vocalisations include a short high-pitched meow call, a loud crying call, both emitted when a cat is trying to locate another one over a long or short distance; they [[prusten]] and raise their muzzle when meeting each other in a friendly manner; when aggressive, they growl with a low-pitched sound and hiss with exposed teeth and wrinkled nose.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Fazio, J. M. |year=2010 |title=Behavioral Assessment of the Clouded Leopard (''Neofelis nebulosa''); A Comparative Study of Reproductive Success |type=MSc |location=Fairfax, VA |publisher=George Mason University}}</ref>

Radio-collared clouded leopards were foremost active by night but also showed [[crepuscular]] activity peaks.<ref name=Grassman05/>
Clouded leopards recorded in northeast India were most active in the late evening after sunset.<ref name=Mukherjee_2019/>

Home ranges have only been estimated in Thailand:
*Four individuals were [[Radio telemetry|radio-collared]] in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary from April 2000 to February 2003. Home ranges of two females were {{cvt|25.7|km2}} and {{cvt|22.9|km2}}, and of two males {{cvt|29.7|km2}} and {{cvt|49.1|km2}}.<ref name=Grassman05/>
*Two individuals were radio-collared during a study from 1997 to 1999 in the [[Khao Yai National Park]]. The home range of one female was {{cvt|39.4|km2}}, of the one male {{cvt|42|km2}}. Both individuals had a core area of {{cvt|2.9|km2}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Austin |first1=S. C. |last2=Tewes |first2=M. E. |name-list-style=amp |year=1999 |title=Ecology of the clouded leopard in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand |journal=Cat News |issue=31 |pages=17–18 }}</ref>
In 2016, clouded leopards were detected in the forest complex of [[Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary]] and [[Khao Sok National Park]] during camera trapping surveys; 15 individuals were identified in a core zone of {{cvt|200|km2}} with [[population density]] estimated at 5.06 individuals per {{cvt|100|km2}}; but only 12 individuals were identified in an edge zone of {{cvt|297|km2}}, which is more disturbed by humans, with density estimated at 3.13 individuals per {{cvt|100|km2}}.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Petersen, W. J. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Steinmetz, R. |author3=Sribuarod, K. |author4=Ngoprasert, D. |year=2020 |title=Density and movements of mainland clouded leopards (''Neofelis nebulosa'') under conditions of high and low poaching pressure |journal=Global Ecology and Conservation |volume=23 |issue= |pages=e01117 |doi=10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01117 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2020GEcoC..2301117P }}</ref>

=== Hunting and diet ===
When hunting, the clouded leopard stalks its prey or waits for the prey to approach. After making and feeding on a kill, it usually retreats into trees to digest and rest. Its prey includes both arboreal and [[terrestrial animal|terrestrial]] [[vertebrate]]s.<ref name=WCoW/>
Pocock presumed that it is adapted for preying upon [[Herbivore|herbivorous]] [[mammals]] of considerable bulk because of its powerful build, long canines and the deep penetration of its bites.<ref name="Pocock" /> In Thailand, clouded leopards have been observed preying on [[southern pig-tailed macaque]] (''Macaca nemestrina''),<ref>{{cite journal |last=Davies, R.G. |year=1990 |title=Sighting of a clouded leopard (''Neofelis nebulosa'') in a troop of pigtail macaques (''Macaca nemestrina'') in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand |journal=Siam Society Natural History Bulletin |volume=38 |pages=95–96}}</ref> [[Indian hog deer]] (''Axis porcinus''), [[Bengal slow loris]] (''Nycticebus bengalensis''), [[Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine]] (''Atherurus macrourus''), [[Malayan pangolin]] (''Manis javanica'') and [[Berdmore's ground squirrel]] (''Menetes berdmorei'').<ref name=Grassman05/> Known prey species in China include [[barking deer]] (''Muntiacus'' sp.) and [[pheasants]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Feng |first1=L. |last2=Lin |first2=L. |last3=Zhang |first3=L. |last4=Wang |first4=L. |last5=Wang |first5=B. |last6=Luo |first6=A. |last7=Yang |first7=S. |last8=Smith |first8 =J. L. D. |last9=Luo |first9=S. J. |last10=Zhang |first10=L. |name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |title=Evidence of wild tigers in southwest China – a preliminary survey of the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve |journal=Cat News |issue=48 |pages=4–6}}</ref>
In northern Peninsular Malaysia, a male clouded leopard was photographed while carrying a [[binturong]] (''Arctictis binturong'') in its jaws.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Lam, W.Y. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Hedges, L. |author3=Clements, G.R. |year=2014 |title=First record of a clouded leopard predating on a binturong |journal=Cat News |issue=60 |page=16}}</ref>

===Reproduction and life cycle===
[[File:Baby clouded leopard!.jpg|thumb|Clouded leopard cub]]
Both males and females average 26 months at first reproduction. The female is in [[estrus]] for about six days, with her [[estrous cycle]] lasting about 30 days.<ref name=Nowell1996/> In the wild, [[mating]] usually occurs between December and March. The pair mates multiple times over the course of several days. The male grasps the female by the neck who responds with vocalization. Occasionally, he also bites her during courtship and is very aggressive during sexual encounters. Females can bear one [[Litter (zoology)|litter]] each year. The male is not involved in raising the cubs.<ref name=WCoW/>

The female gives birth to a litter of one to five, mostly three cubs, after a [[gestation]] period of 93 ± 6 days.<ref name=Nowell1996/> Cubs are born with closed eyes and weigh from {{cvt|140|to|280|g}}. Their spots are solid dark, rather than dark rings. Their eyes open after about 10 days. They are active within five weeks and fully weaned at around three months of age. They attain the adult coat pattern at around six months and become independent after around 10 months.<ref name=WCoW/>

Captive clouded leopards have an average lifespan of 11 years.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Achariyo, L. N. |last2=Mishra, Ch. G. |name-list-style=amp |year=1981 |title=Some notes on the longevity of two species of Indian wild cats in captivity |journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |volume=78 |page=155 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48228655#page/167/mode/1up |access-date=9 April 2020 |archive-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802042929/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48228655#page/167/mode/1up |url-status=live}}</ref>
One individual has lived to be almost 17 years old.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clouded leopard |publisher=[[The Aspinall Foundation]] |url=http://www.aspinallfoundation.org/animals/small-cats/clouded-leopard |date= n.d. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418203716/http://aspinallfoundation.org/animals/small-cats/clouded-leopard |archive-date=2014-04-18 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Generation time|generation length]] of the clouded leopard is about seven years.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Generation length for mammals |author1=Pacifici, M. |author2=Santini, L. |author3=Di Marco, M. |author4=Baisero, D. |author5=Francucci, L. |author6=Grottolo Marasini, G. |author7=Visconti, P. |author8=Rondinini, C. |name-list-style=amp |journal=Nature Conservation |year=2013 |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=87–94 |doi=10.3897/natureconservation.5.5734 |doi-access=free}}</ref>