THE PIGMY LEOPARD 

 Felis pardus nanopardus, Thos. 



Somali name, Shebel or Shebeyl 



Description. — Never having seen this small leopard, which 

 apparently only inhabits the Southern Haud, I will quote from the 

 " Annals and Magazine of Natural History," ser. 7, vol. xiv., 

 August 1904, in which it was first described by Mr. Thomas from 

 specimens obtained by Major Dunn, R.A.M.C. : " A leopard of the 

 ordinary African desert type, but conspicuously smaller than any 

 other member of the group. Fur short, hairs of back only about 

 10 mm. in length. Coloration as usual in East African leopards, 

 the general tone pale, the ground-colour along the dorsal area pale 

 buffy or creamy-bufify, gradually passing into white on the belly 

 and limbs. Spots small, more or less elongated on the anterior 

 back ; rosettes not well defined or conspicuous. Spotting on 

 limbs extending to the toes. Teeth as usual except for their 

 smaller size." 



Measurements of stretched skins of a male and female were 

 as follows : 



Length of head ^ 5 



and body . 1 1 50 mm. or 3 ft. 9 in. 1070 mm. or 3 ft. 6 in. 



Length of tail . 650 „ „ 2 „ i^ „ 580 „ „ i „ 11 „ 



Total length . 1800 „ „ 5 „ 10^ „ 1650 „ „ 5 „ 5 „ 



Distribution. — The pigmy leopard (of which up to date only 

 three specimens have been obtained, while one of these, namely 

 Captain Johnson-Stewart's, was lost), as far as is at present known, 

 is found only in the Nogal Valley and the Ogaden country. Dunn 

 obtained both his two specimens 40 miles west of Gorahai on the 

 Tug Fafan. 



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