Research overview: extra-territorial paternity in leopards

In territorial solitary cats such as leopards, cubs are sometimes fathered by males other than the dominant resident, raising questions about mating dynamics. This overview surveys evidence for extra-territorial or alternative paternity in leopards, detected through genetic parentage analysis, and what it implies about female mate choice and male competition. It reviews how overlapping ranges, neighboring males, and the risk of infanticide may drive females to mate with multiple males. The review connects these patterns to leopard spatial organization and population genetics. Understanding extra-territorial paternity in leopards clarifies that even in solitary species the mating system can be more complex than simple territorial monopolization, with consequences for gene flow and population structure.