This Bornean clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) was recognized as a separate species from the common clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). The Bornean clouded leopard is found on Borneo, Sumatra, and the Batu islands, and it was originally believed to have been a subspecies of the common clouded leopard. However, sophisticated analysis of the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA found that the two populations of clouded leopard have been separate for 1.4 million years.
The first film of this species was taken in June 2009, but it was only released a few days ago.
Clouded leopards are pantherine cats, which are better known as big cats.
The two species of clouded leopard are known for their highly arboreal lifestyle. Their name in Malay means “tree-branch tiger.” Their long tails and relatively short legs make them much more maneuverable in the trees.
The clouded leopards are known to have relatively large canine teeth. Indeed, their canine teeth are larger in proportion to their body size of any extant cat.
Check out the canine teeth on this skull:
I should mention here that the Bornean clouded leopard is considered Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The animals are not very common over their range, and their arboreal lifestyle and secretive nature make them very hard to find.
