- Feeding
The snow leopard obtains it's energy (Eating) through a diet mainly composed of Marmots. Marmots are a kind of mountainous sheep, relatively small in size, that share an environment with the mountain lion, and are rather common. These factors make the Marmot an ideal food source for the Snow Leopard. However, the food sources will change based on the season, location of the Snow Leopard, and how well the other kinds of animals are surviving. For example, if the seasons are particularly rough, the Snow Leopard is capable of taking down other animals up to four time it's size like Bharal, a blue sheep, or the Markhor, a large mountain goat that is extremely mean.
Something that really sets the Snow Leopard apart from other animals, and makes it's diet very flexible is the fact that, as a cat, it will also consume large amounts of plant matter, so it can obtain energy in a more direct manner, rather than a secondary consumer. It also is an opportunistic feeder, so unlike most cats, who always kill their prey, the Snow Leopard will eat any meat it happens to come across. I feel like this is a necessary adaptation for living in such a rough, cold, and mountainous environment.
Something that really sets the Snow Leopard apart from other animals, and makes it's diet very flexible is the fact that, as a cat, it will also consume large amounts of plant matter, so it can obtain energy in a more direct manner, rather than a secondary consumer. It also is an opportunistic feeder, so unlike most cats, who always kill their prey, the Snow Leopard will eat any meat it happens to come across. I feel like this is a necessary adaptation for living in such a rough, cold, and mountainous environment.
- Respiration
"All life respires, or breathes. Respiration in mammals is similar to respiration in other air breathing animals. Respiration is necessary to extract oxygen from the air, which is use by cells. Respiration also carries waste carbon dioxide away from the cells. Although respiration depends on other systems (like the circulatory system) to take oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from cells, the respiratory system is primarily responsible for bringing oxygen in to a mammal's body and sending carbon dioxide into the atmosphere."
Read more: Respiration in Mammals | eHow http://www.ehow.com/about_7220116_respiration-mammals.html#ixzz2TzNxTWCw
Respiratory systems in mammals, like the Snow Leopard, rely on a single organ found at the base of the lungs. This organ is called the diaphragm. They diaphragm expands, causing air (Oxygen) to rush into the lungs. Then, it contracts, pushing what is left, or Co², back out into the environment. This is how it takes in it's oxygen, but how is it moved around? After the Oxygen is in the lungs, it is moved into the blood stream. This blood that is now carrying oxygen is pushed or pumped through the body to get oxygen to the places the animal needs it, like muscles, or their brains. After depositing the oxygen, the blood will be returned to the lungs to pick up more, and repeat the cycle.
Depending on the environment, or factors like altitude, mammals will sometimes breath only through their noses or mouth. Mammals have a very diverse selection of respiration to choose from, like us, humans who breath through our mouths and noses. But Snow Leopards breathe through their nostrils because of the high altitude they live in. They also have very deep nasal cavities which helps them in their thin-aired environment.
- Circulation
The Snow Leopard, like other farther evolved mammals, has a closed circulatory system, with a four chambered heart. (Left & Right Atrium, and Left & Right Ventricle) Having a four chambered heart also means that you have a double looped circulatory system. The point of a double looped system, is so oxygenated blood, and de-oxygenated blood, never combine. In other words, the Snow Leopard's oxygen carrying blood is carried through one artery, until it reaches its destination, and uses up it's oxygen. Then the blood without oxygen, is carried through a separate artery up to the lungs where it picks up oxygen, and is pumped back through the heart where it changes arteries again. This cycle continuously repeats, unless there is disease or death.
- Excretion
As a mammal, the Snow Leopards method of excretion is almost exactly the same process that humans go through. For food, the Snow Leopard eats it's prey, or a portion of it's prey. Then the food is moved from the mouth, through the esophagus, into the stomach. Once food is in the stomach, it is broken down and the nutrients in the food, such as vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates, are taken into the body where they are used or stored. The "waste" or nutrition-less, digested food, moves through the intestines until it is removed from the body.
And with water? Again, just like us, water is taken in through the mouth, goes down the esophagus and into the stomach where it stays, until it moves into the intestines. Once in the intestines, and it has served it's purpose as a stool softener, it is moved through an artery where the Snow Leopards body directs it to where it needs to be, the kidneys. The kidneys figure out the optimal amount of water for the Snow Leopard, then, it filters out any toxins or cellular waste, and moves that along with extra water, to the bladder where it is removed from the body.
And with water? Again, just like us, water is taken in through the mouth, goes down the esophagus and into the stomach where it stays, until it moves into the intestines. Once in the intestines, and it has served it's purpose as a stool softener, it is moved through an artery where the Snow Leopards body directs it to where it needs to be, the kidneys. The kidneys figure out the optimal amount of water for the Snow Leopard, then, it filters out any toxins or cellular waste, and moves that along with extra water, to the bladder where it is removed from the body.
- Reproduction
"Snow leopards are unusual among large cats in that they have a well-defined birth peak. They usually mate in late winter, marked by a noticeable increase in marking and calling. Snow leopards have a gestation period of 90–100 days, so the cubs are born between April and June." The cubs are born in a rocky den, or any other secluded and sheltered area such as a crevice. The floor is matter with fur that is shed from the mother. On average, there are about two cubs born per season. The cubs are born with their eyes shut, and they are totally helpless. Snow Leopard cubs become independent after about 20 months, and become sexually mature around three years old.
- Movement
The Snow Leopard moves just like any other Feline. It walks carefully, and quietly on four legs. Having four lets provides a balance benefit, as well as a maneuverability benefit. After stalking, or walking quietly to sneak up on prey, the Leopard will run to catch and bring down it's food. The movement of a Snow Leopard also changes throughout it's life. When they are young, or newborns, they'll waddle or blunder around until they become more sure-footed as adults. When they enter old age, they will slow down, and often become arthritic, making fast or large body movements will cause joint pain to the organism.
- Reaction/Response
Because the snow leopard is such a seclusive, and private animal, most of it's reactions involve leaving an area that has been disturbed. Like moving from one place within it's claimed territory to another. Another way the Snow Leopard reacts, is reaction to the whether. It's fur can be matted down, or fluffed up to help regulate it's body temperature to some degree. In the rain, or the snow, they Leopard will react by moving to a sheltered area. Snow leopards hunt very quietly, so they can hear their surroundings and vacate the premises, but if that is not an option, the Snow Leopard will lie low, and lay it's ears back so it can pass off as a rock. It's camouflage also helps it in this hiding process. These are just a few examples of how the Snow Leopard reacts to different environmental, and situational disturbances.