Research overview: subspecies and population genetics of the leopard

The leopard is the most widely distributed big cat, ranging across Africa and Asia, and genetic studies have refined its subspecies framework. This overview surveys evidence that African leopards form a relatively cohesive group while Asian populations are more deeply structured, supporting several recognized subspecies such as the critically endangered Amur leopard, the Arabian leopard, and the Sri Lankan and Javan leopards. It discusses the extreme genetic depletion of the Amur leopard, reduced to a tiny population, the conservation prioritization that subspecies recognition enables, and how molecular data clarify which leopard populations represent distinct evolutionary units warranting separate management.