Genetic and morphological work published in the mid-2000s separated the clouded leopards of Borneo and Sumatra from the mainland species. The two lineages are thought to have diverged more than a million years ago.
On Borneo, where no tiger or leopard occurs, the Sunda clouded leopard is the apex carnivore, and camera-trap studies suggest it uses both the forest floor and the canopy extensively.
Size and measurements
| Head-body length | 2 ft 4 in – 3 ft 5 in (70–105 cm) |
|---|---|
| Tail length | 24 in – 2 ft 9 in (60–85 cm) |
| Shoulder height | 20 in – 22 in (50–55 cm) |
| Body weight | 26–57 lb (12–26 kg) — Limited sample sizes; most figures come from a small number of captured animals. |
| Top recorded speed | Not reliably measured — Not measured in the field. |
| Lifespan in the wild | 10–12 years |
| Lifespan under human care | 13–17 years |
Habitat and range
Lowland and hill dipterocarp forest, peat swamp forest and montane forest; the species also uses selectively logged forest, though at lower densities than in primary habitat.
Endemic to Borneo and Sumatra, with separate subspecies recognised on each island.
Diet and hunting
Bearded pig, mouse deer, macaques, proboscis monkeys, porcupines, civets and birds.
Hunting strategy — Stalking ambush in forest. Hunts both from branches and along the ground, taking prey up to the size of a young bearded pig.
Behaviour and activity
Solitary. Individuals maintain large home ranges relative to body size; detections are strongly associated with continuous forest cover.
Nocturnal and crepuscular. Camera-trap data show a strong night-time peak, with some crepuscular movement.
Climbing and swimming
Climbing — Exceptional. Highly arboreal, with the same rotating ankle anatomy as the mainland species.
Swimming — Capable. Recorded crossing rivers within its forest range.
Conservation status
The Sunda Clouded Leopard is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a population trend recorded as decreasing in the assessment published in 2015.
Conversion of lowland forest to oil-palm plantation has removed a large share of the best habitat on both islands, leaving increasingly isolated forest blocks.
Documented threats
- Conversion of forest to plantation
- Logging
- Fragmentation of lowland forest
- Snaring
- Trade in skins
Look up the current Red List assessment for Neofelis diardi
Notable traits
- It was described as a distinct species only in 2006, after genetic comparison with mainland clouded leopards.
- Its cloud markings are smaller, darker-edged and more densely spotted than those of the mainland species.
- On Borneo it occupies the ecological role that tigers and leopards fill elsewhere in Asia.
Sources for this profile
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- World Wildlife Fund Range descriptions, threat summaries and conservation programme reporting.
- Wildlife Conservation Society Field programmes, camera-trap surveys and population monitoring.
- Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation Dedicated research and field reporting on the lesser-known felids.