Research overview: genetic split of the clouded leopards

The clouded leopard, long treated as a single species, was shown by genetic and morphological analysis to comprise two distinct species: the mainland clouded leopard and the Sunda clouded leopard of Borneo and Sumatra. This overview surveys the molecular evidence for a deep divergence between the two, likely driven by isolation across the Pleistocene island and sea-level changes of Southeast Asia, and the recognition of distinct island populations within the Sunda form. It discusses how the clouded leopards occupy a basal position in the Panthera lineage, the conservation implications of recognizing two threatened species, and how genetics uncovered a hidden big-cat species.