October 23, 2021 World Snow Leopard Day · Special Production Did you know? China is a Snow Leopard Country Of the nearly 8,000 snow leopards in the world, More than half live in China (The number of snow leopards varies in different statistics. The one here is based on the latest assessment results of IUCN. Some scholars also believe that the number of snow leopards is higher; a female snow leopard in the nursing period sticks her head out of a cave, Angsai, Qinghai, photographer @熙志农/野性中国) ▼ snow leopard (Panthera uncia) It is the majestic king of the mountains (The King Descends the Mountain, Qinghai, Photographer @彭建生) ▼ A cute wilderness elf (A baby snow leopard under the careful care of its mother, Angsai, Qinghai, photographer @熙志农/Wild China) ▼ Still a cute big plush cat (“Come and play with your eyes wide open!”, Jizha, Qinghai, photographer @更求曲朋/野性中国) ▼ When we understand its scientific More and more We are also becoming more and more aware of Snow leopards are so amazing tomorrow It's World Snow Leopard Day Let us look at each other for thousands of years Learn more about the legendary story of the snow leopard Get to know this person again King of the Snow Mountain 01 Parting ways now Snow leopard vs tiger, lion, leopard and jaguar Panthera Leopard Together they are affectionately called Big Cats (The "Five Tigers" of the Panthera genus, image source: @谢建国/Natural Image China, Li Jia, Visual China, Jia Jiqian, Visual China) ▼ The five Panthera tigers are all famous King of the forest, King of the grassland, King of the snow mountain The same kingly temperament originated from about 11 million years ago The same ancestor Fake cat (Pseudaelurus spp.) (Species of the genus Pseudocyptia lived in Eurasia and the Americas between 20 and 8 million years ago. According to fossil records, it is generally believed that they are the ancestors of all living cats (Felidae). Compared with modern cats, Pseudocyptia has the morphological characteristics of "long body and short legs". Map by @杨宁/星球研究院) ▼ The fake cat family was undergoing expansion at that time One group of them is in the western Himalayas Zhada Basin Settle down and thrive (The Zhada Basin in the Himalayas is where the earliest fossils of Panthera species were discovered, so the area is also generally considered to be the origin of Panthera species. Map by @Zheng Yi/Planet Research Institute) ▼ At this moment, under their feet The Himalayas are rising faster Unconsciously, it has become a natural barrier between the east and the west. Blocked the communication with the outside world Geographical isolation (The towering Himalayas are an insurmountable natural barrier for the terrestrial animals living there, Mount Nanga Bawa, photographer @李珩) ▼ Fake cat isolated here Drifting away from fellow countrymen Gradually evolved into a unique type of cat Panthera (Panthera spp.) (A leopard in Africa looks exactly like your cat when it stretches. Image source: Visual China) ▼ About 8 million years ago The Zada Basin began to become cold and dry The forests here have become sparse, and shrubs have appeared in large numbers. The original subtropical forest environment is gradually disappearing (Transitional environment from forest to meadow, Jianziwan Mountain in Hengduan Mountains, photographer @熊可) ▼ Under the constant pressure of the environment Disagreements began to arise within the Panthera genus The common ancestor of snow leopards and tigers was the first to establish its own lineage Separated from the extended family Started to evolve independently (A Siberian tiger in the forest of the Siberian Tiger Conservation Base, Siberian Tiger National Park, photographer @雷雨) ▼ Although the relationship between snow leopards and tigers is the closest But they still couldn't make it to the end together After a relationship lasting about 2 million years Finally parted ways (Schematic diagram of the evolutionary relationship of the Panthera genus, which also includes the clouded leopard of the genus Clouded Leopard and related extinct species; there is still controversy about the affiliation of the snow leopard. Based on the structure of the snow leopard's hyoid bone, some scholars believe that the snow leopard should be a separate genus, but based on the research results of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, the academic community generally classifies the snow leopard into the Panthera genus. However, there are still differences within the Panthera genus. Based on different genetic data, some scholars believe that the snow leopard is most closely related to the tiger, while others believe that it is most closely related to the lion. Map by @龙雁羽/星球研究院) ▼ About 4 million years ago Snow leopard ancestors bid farewell to their brothers A good time of plenty and plenty of food and clothing at this time The Himalayas are over 4000 meters above sea level Obvious vertical zoning of vegetation has emerged The Zhada Basin is just at the tree line height. Lakes, forests, grasslands, gravel beaches A place where multiple ecosystems meet It breeds an exceptionally rich fauna There are Zada three-toed horses that are good at running on the grass The Himalayan Sheep There are cold-resistant Tibetan woolly rhinos in the snow Chiu's fox, the ancestor of the Arctic fox, is found near the bush. (Schematic diagram of the restoration of the ecological landscape of the Zada Basin in the Pliocene epoch four to five million years ago, drawn by @Yang Ning/Planetary Research Institute) ▼ And standing at the top of the food chain here Rule this land It is the ancestor of the snow leopard Panthera pardus (Panthera blytheae) (The skull fossil of Panthera buergeri discovered in the Zhada Basin in 2010 is also the holotype specimen of Panthera buergeri. Later studies found that among the living Panthera species, it has the closest genetic relationship with the snow leopard. Image source: @Mauricio& Zeng Zhijie) ▼ About 2.6 million years ago Great changes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Under the dual effects of altitude and monsoon The Quaternary Ice Age quietly began The polar environment of the plateau is beginning to emerge (The glacial polar environment of the sacred mountain Dong Nianqing Sap in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, photographer @李珩) ▼ Animals such as the Zada Hipparion that cannot tolerate severe cold They were eliminated by the harsh environment The ancestors of the snow leopard successfully took root here They have From head to toe, from outside to inside Perfect Armor 02 Rooted in the Plateau To cope with the cold and oxygen-deficient environment Snow leopard ancestors evolved many unique traits It has also become the unique secret recipe for snow leopards to take root in the plateau. (“Look at me, it’s time to show your real skills!”, Tibet, photographer @林根火/自然影像中国) ▼ The first move of the unique secret technique “Immune to cold” To combat the cold environment Snow Leopards Arm Themselves Externally In terms of body shape Snow leopards have a reputation among big cats The smallest head The smallest ears The shortest and thickest limbs This helps it in cold environments Reduce heat dissipation (The skull size comparison of big cats, small heads and ears, etc., conforms to Allen's Law in ecology, which states that "homeothermic animals living in cold areas tend to have shorter protruding parts of their body surface (such as limbs and ears), which helps prevent heat loss." Map by @杨宁/星球研究院) ▼ Hair Snow leopards have the largest Longest and densest body hair The belly hair in winter is up to 12 cm long The average density is about 4000 strands/cm² You know, the hair we worry about every day The density is only 200-300 strands/cm² (Snow leopards have thick fur, and the hair on their abdomen is the longest of all parts of their body. Sanjiangyuan National Park. Photographer: @李婷婷) ▼ On feet Snow leopards have unusually wide paws There are long hairs between the pads on the soles of the feet Like a pair of natural snowshoes Walking steadily on icy and snowy roads (Note the snow leopard's wide paws. Aren't they inexplicably cute? Image source: Visual China) ▼ On the tail The snow leopard's tail is almost as long as its body. The thick tail can also be used as a warm neckband when sleeping. It is also a good balance tool when flying over eaves and walls. (The snow leopard's tail is so large that it is even a bit cumbersome. People have recorded snow leopards holding their tails in their mouths. One speculation is that this is to reduce the inconvenience caused by the oversized tail when wading, just like you hold up your pants when crossing a river. There are also speculations that this is a stress response under tension. Image source: @Visual China) ▼ To cope with the hypoxic environment Snow Leopards Arm Themselves from Within In the nose The top of the snow leopard's skull is ridged Make the nasal cavity space very wide This helps to warm and humidify the cool air you breathe in. Increase the amount of air you inhale each time Get more oxygen (Snow leopards facing each other head-on, photographer @谢建国/Natural Image China) ▼ In the blood Research Findings Snow leopards have small and dense blood cells This can effectively increase blood oxygen concentration Coping with the hypoxic environment of the plateau (A family of snow leopards in a high-altitude environment, Angsai, Qinghai, photographer @Bao Yongqing) ▼ The second method of the unique secret technique "Extraordinary skills" Due to the poor living environment Prey resources are very limited Snow leopards have developed extraordinary skills Big Mouth The snow leopard's upper and lower jaws can open up to 70 degrees. This is the largest opening among Panthera species. It helps it hunt animals with thick necks. Prey such as blue sheep and ibex (A blue sheep with a thick neck, Ali, Tibet, photographer @丁丁) ▼ Fangs Snow leopard canines Thinner and rounder than other Panthera species. This helps it to exert force in all directions Make it in complex hillside bare rock environment Hunt your prey as quickly as possible Reduce the risk and cost of hunting (The snow leopard opens its bloody mouth. Image source: Visual China) ▼ Camouflage Snow leopards have light grey or khaki fur. Decorated with dark patches of different sizes Very similar to the surrounding bare rock environment An ideal camouflage color (There are 3 snow leopards in the picture. Can you find them? You can click on the picture to find them. Angsai, Qinghai. Photo @次丁/野性中国) ▼ flexibility Snow leopards have flexible spines and strong limbs Excellent burst, acceleration, quick turn and jumping abilities The maximum span of a single jump can reach 14 meters Far surpassing the human long jump world record of 8.95 meters It can also kill prey three times its own weight. A veritable apex predator (A snow leopard running at lightning speed on the hillside, Angsai, Qinghai, photographer @更求曲朋/野性中国) ▼ However Although the snow leopard is extraordinary But the world is so cold Hunger is still inevitable Fortunately, snow leopards are big and small. From big blue sheep and wild donkeys to small marmots and pikas All in the Snow Leopard's Diet What’s even more interesting is Researchers have found evidence of a link between the scat of snow leopards and We also discovered many plants (A snow leopard is eating a yak, Sanjiangyuan National Park, photographer @李婷婷) ▼ The third method of the unique secret technique "Wordless Book" According to current research Snow leopards are not in estrus or raising cubs. Most of the time I am alone Communication becomes a problem (Snow Mountain Lone Ranger, Kangma, Tibet, photographer @米藏达哇) ▼ Depending on the environment Its home range area ranges from tens to thousands of square kilometers. A 2015 study in Mongolia showed A female snow leopard's home range can be up to 124 square kilometers. The male snow leopard is even larger, about 207 square kilometers. Almost equivalent to the area within Beijing's Fourth Ring Road (Snow leopard home range diagram, drawn by @Zheng Yi/Planet Research Institute) ▼ but Such a large home area It also means "I live at the head of the Yangtze River, and you live at the tail of the Yangtze River" Snow leopard in estrus How to find a partner? In the mountainous areas of Central Asia where “the land is vast and leopards are sparsely populated” It's not wise to rely on shouting alone For this purpose, Snow Leopard explored a set of wordless heavenly books Content includes planer marks, claw marks, smells, etc. It leaves the above-mentioned signs at appropriate locations along the way Let those who come after you interpret these marks Know your location, identity, etc. Avoid unnecessary encounters Maintained necessary contact Killing two birds with one stone (A lonely snow leopard patrolling the mountains, Sanjiangyuan National Park, photographer @张强) ▼ that's all Immune to cold, extraordinary skills, wordless book Under the protection of these three secrets Snow leopards successfully take root in the harsh plateau after A major climate change Allowing snow leopards to move towards a wider world 03 Traveling around About 1.7 million years ago Temperature drops sharply Ice sheets and glaciers are expanding The surrounding areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have also seen Polar environment (Gangbu Glacier, a huge glacier stretching endlessly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, photographer @李珩) ▼ This is a cold-resistant animal Creates excellent expansion opportunities The first to seize the opportunity are usually herbivores. Blue sheep, Himalayan Tahr Markhor, Ibex The wild sheep army is representative They are the main prey of snow leopards. Usually for hunting convenience Snow leopards will follow the herds of wild sheep And this time it will not fall. (A herd of blue sheep in the Himalayas, image source: Visual China) ▼ on the other hand The need for huge "private space" Force young snow leopards to constantly explore new territories This also indirectly contributed to the spread of snow leopards Against the backdrop of the Ice Age Driven by both prey and territory Snow leopards leave the Zada Basin where their ancestors lived Conquering hills one after another Gradually formed the current distribution pattern (Diagram of the current distribution range of snow leopards, drawn by @Zheng Yi/Planet Research Institute) ▼ Snow Leopard Today Distributed in mountainous areas with an altitude of 500 to 5800 meters The possible distribution area exceeds 3 million square kilometers This is equivalent to 1/3 of China's land area. Distribution area spans China, Mongolia, Russia Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan Nepal, Uzbekistan, Bhutan 12 countries in total ("I am a silent stone!", Jizha, Qinghai, photographer @Ciding/Wild China) ▼ China Today Borders 10 of these countries China's distribution area is in the center of the world's distribution area 60% of the global distribution area These distribution areas are concentrated in my country Western regions such as Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai and Gansu It is no exaggeration to say As long as you are in the vast western part of China In all likelihood, you have entered the territory of the snow leopard. Not only that Statistics from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in 2016 There are approximately 7,446-7,996 snow leopards in the wild worldwide. More than half of the snow leopards live in China. (Comparison of snow leopard distribution area and number in various countries, map by @郑艺/Planet Research Institute) ▼ It can be seen from this Whether Geographic location, distribution area or population size China deserves it Snow Leopard Country 04 Snow Leopard Country As a country of snow leopards Our relationship with snow leopards is of course long-standing. Snow leopards have witnessed the rise of Chinese civilization Birth, development, until today Even before the birth of Chinese civilization The snow leopard's heroic appearance appeared Tian Shan, Karakoram and Himalayas In the rock paintings (There is an animal in the rock painting with round spots and a long tail. Compared with local animals, it is speculated that this is very likely a snow leopard. Map by @杨宁/Planetary Research Institute) ▼ The Beginning of China Snow leopards are likely to become "Zou Yu" in the Book of Songs "Meng Ji" in "Classic of Mountains and Seas" It turns into an auspicious beast Accept the respect of ancestors (In 1991, Zhou Shiqi of Renmin University of China compared Mengji's shape, fur color, habitat, habits and origin with today's snow leopards and verified that Mengji should be a snow leopard. Map by Yang Ning/Planetary Research Institute) ▼ Ming and Qing Dynasties Snow leopards are called "Artemisia argyi leopard" in Compendium of Materia Medica People gradually realized that it was just a kind of leopard So it began to fall from the altar Snow leopards are captured and used in large numbers to make Leopard fur, leopard ornaments, leopard meat, leopard fetus Leopard seats, leopard pillows, and leopard tail cars (In Mongolia, snow leopard fur decorations were often seen in residential buildings in the past. Image source: Visual China) ▼ Early Republic of China In the Encyclopedia of Zoology It was first known as the Snow Leopard (Although snow leopards are named after "snow", their living environment is more like rocks and meadows, rather than white snowfields, Aksu, Xinjiang, photographer @吕凤晓) ▼ Demand is high, supply is keeping up The resulting poaching Still rampant 2016 TRAFFIC, an international wildlife trade monitoring organization Since 2008, the world At least four snow leopards are killed every week. (The fur of snow leopards is the target of hunters, picture source @Visual China) ▼ Not only that Climate warming and human activities Making life even worse for snow leopards on the one hand Snow Leopard Habitat Rapidly declining due to human activities such as grazing Making food in the snow leopard's original home range even more scarce Human settlements with herds of cattle and sheep have become a new option This caused a big trouble Human-animal conflict (In recent years, snow leopards have been increasingly active near human settlements, Angsai, Qinghai, photographer @次丁/野性中国) ▼ on the other hand Warming climate poses threat to snow leopards New Contenders Since 2015 People gradually moved to Sichuan, Qinghai and other regions The snow leopard and the leopard were accidentally captured in the same frame (On a ridge in Angsai, Qinghai, an infrared camera captured snow leopards and leopards appearing in the same place one after another. Image source: @山水自然保护中心) ▼ Only in the 20th century The distribution area of snow leopards in my country has decreased by 42%. In the first half of the 20th century, Central Plains area Snow leopards have also been spotted (A diagram showing the changes in the distribution of snow leopards in my country over the past century. It should be noted that many experts now believe that the snow leopard records in the Northeast are likely to be a misjudgment of the Far Eastern leopard and are not accurate, so please refer to the results presented in this diagram with caution. Map by @郑艺/星球研究院) ▼ Snow leopards are facing threats to their survival Snow Leopard Country, Take Action Now 1984~1986 American zoologist George B. Schaller The first scientific study of snow leopards in my country Subsequently, Chinese scholars also carried out research (In 2015, Dr. George Schaller conducted a snow leopard survey in Ganzi, Sichuan. He was once named "one of the three most outstanding wildlife researchers in the world" by Time magazine in New York, the other two being Darwin and Wallace, who proposed the theory of "natural selection" at the same time as him. Image source: @Shanshui Nature Conservation Center) ▼ After 2008 A large number of government and private snow leopard protection organizations have emerged in China. Beijing Forestry University Team, Peking University Team, The team of Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanshui Nature Conservation Center, Mount Everest Snow Leopard Conservation Center China Cat Protection Alliance (Cat Alliance) Wild Xinjiang, Green Rivers ...... They each guard one side and are connected to each other Building a protection network for China's snow leopards (Today, there are many snow leopard protection organizations in China working hard to protect this beautiful big cat. Photographer: Shen Zhijun, map by Yang Ning/Planet Research Institute) ▼ To protect snow leopards They traveled through mountains and rivers, trying every possible means (The herders on the front line are trained to become wildlife photographers, using their images to influence the public and protect animals. From left to right, they are Dajie, Gengqiu Qupeng, and Ciding. Their works are mentioned in the previous article. Photographer @柯炫辉/野性中国) ▼ Protecting Snow Leopards More than just protecting a rare big cat It is also a vast and beautiful land that protects the snow leopards. And all the living creatures on this land This is also the mission of the snow leopard as a flagship species (Sanjiangyuan National Park, officially established in October 2021, is the main habitat of snow leopards, Sanjiangyuan National Park, photographer @彭建生) ▼ 2017 Snow leopard removed from endangered species list by IUCN As of 2018 There are 26 nature reserves in the country Protected approximately 22% of snow leopard habitat (Distribution diagram of the current snow leopard distribution areas and national nature reserves in China, drawn by @郑艺/Planet Research Institute) ▼ China Today It is not only a country with vast land and abundant resources, but also a country with snow leopards. It has also become a snow leopard country with a heavy responsibility Looking back Snow leopard passing through The mountains and rivers are different, the situation changes dramatically, and human catastrophe Come before us It has gone through separation, hardship and wandering On the verge of despair again and again, but always out of danger With strong vitality It fights against nature alone Became a true son of the Snow Mountain ("I, Snow Leopard" is a long poem written by Ji Dimaga, a well-known Yi poet in my country, for Dr. George Schaller, an internationally renowned snow leopard expert) ▼ "I am the true son of Xueshan Watching loneliness, crossing all time and space" This land used to be Shaped the unique appearance of the snow leopard Snow leopards can now roam freely in this land The river is no longer a ruthless flow The mountains are no longer silent stones It is an everlasting wilderness It is a thriving snow leopard country (A snow leopard in the snow, staring into the distance, is it reminiscing about the past or looking forward to the future? Image source: Visual China) ▼ This article was created by Written by: Zuokou Image: Pan Chenxia Map: Zhengyi Design: Yang Ning, Long Yanling Header image source: Visual China Reviewers: Director, Quasimodo by the River, Ding Hao, Chen Zhihao Expert reviewers: Xiao Lingyun, Lian Xinming Special thanks to: Shanshui Conservation Center, Wild China, Natural Image China Main references of this article [1] Deng Tao, Wang Xiaoming, Li Qiang, Wu Feixiang. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: From paradise of tropical flora and fauna to cradle of glacial fauna[J]. Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2017, 32(09): 959-966. [2] Deng Tao, Wu Feixiang, Su Tao, Zhou Zekun. 2020. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: an evolutionary hub for the formation of modern biodiversity. Science China: Earth Sciences, 50: 177–193, doi:10.1360/SSTe-2019-0112. [3] Li Jijun, Zhou Shangzhe, Zhao Zhijun, Zhang Jun. On the main story of the Qinghai-Tibet Movement[J]. Science China: Earth Sciences, 2015, 45(10): 1597-1608. [4] Lu Qi, Hu Qiang, Shi Xiaogang, et al. Analysis of the diet of snow leopards in Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province based on molecular metabarcoding[J]. Biodiversity Science. 2019(09). [5] Ma Ming, Xu Feng, Cheng Yun, et al. Snow Leopard in Xinjiang[M]. Beijing, Science Press, 2013. [6] Shanshui Nature Center, China Snow Leopard Survey and Conservation Report 2018, 2018. [7] Wen Rongsheng, Distribution changes of rare wild animals in China (continued) [M], 2018. [8] WEI Lei, WU Xiaobing, ZHU Lixin, JIANG Zhigang. Analysis of mitochondrial genome of Panthera[J]. SCIENCE CHINA: LIFE SCIENCES, 2011, 41(09): 699-713. [9] Zhu Dagang, Meng Xiangang, Shao Zhaogang, Yang Chaobin, Han Jianen, Yu Jia, Meng Qingwei, Lü Rongping. Paleovegetation, paleoenvironment and paleoclimate evolution from the Pliocene to the Early Pleistocene in the Zanda Basin, Ngari, Tibet[J]. Acta Geologica Sinica, 2007(03):295-306+433. [10] Zhang Chunshao. Hair density of healthy adults in Guangdong and its relationship with TCM constitution[D]. Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 2014. [11] Announcement of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration: http://www.forestry.gov.cn/main/3095/20180907/112039442- 154775.html [12] “Snow Leopard Survey and Conservation Status in China 2018” https://snowleopardnetwork.org/wpcontent/up- loads/2020/04/%E9%9B%AA%E8%B1%B9%E6%8A%A5%E5%91%8A201812%EF%BC%88%E5%8D%B0%E5%88%B7%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89.pdf [13] BU Haq, J. Hardenbol, PR Vail, Science 235, 1156 (1987). [14] Bernor RL, Tobien H., Hayek L. AC., et al. Hippotherium primigenium (Equidae, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene ofHöwenegg (Hegao, Germany) [J]. Andrias, 1997, 10: 1-230. [15] Deng, T., Wang, X., Fortelius,M., Li, Q., Wang, Y., Tseng, ZJ, Takeuchi, GT, Saylor, JE, Säilä, LK, 1285–1288. [16] Deng T., Li Q., Tseng ZJ, et al. Locomotive implication of a Pliocenethree-toed horse skeleton from Tibet and its paleo-altimetry significance [J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States ofAmerica, 2012, 109: 7374-7378. [17] Johnson, WE, Eizirik, E., Pecon-Slattery, J., Murphy, WJ, Antunes, A., Teeling, E., & O'brien, SJ (2006). The late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: a genetic assessment. Science 311(5757), 73-77. [18] Hemmer, H., 1972. Uncia uncia. Mammal [J]. Species 20, 1–5. [19] Tseng, ZJ, Wang, [20] Thomas Mccarthy, David Mallon. Snow Leopard [M], Academic Press, 2016. Planetary Research Institute Deconstruct everything in the world and explore the ultimate world ···THE END··· |
>>: Why do mice have so many germs, but cats don’t get sick when they eat them?
According to the results of my country's seve...
Do you think there are only tea trees in a tea ga...
Want to play Kinect motion-sensing games on Micro...
Colorectal cancer (i.e., large intestine cancer) ...
Insight comes from understanding. Industry resear...
Readers often ask the author how to divert Douyin...
Recently, a new variant has attracted the attenti...
What is OCPC, how does it work, and what accounts...
During the Lesser Heat, the temperature is high a...
Astronomers have discovered a new astronomical tr...
This article is transferred from: Channel Help Sh...
It's that time of year again when it's co...
WeChat for iOS has been updated to version 7.0.20...
For a long time, scientists hesitated between the...