Research overview: the Persian leopard and Southwest Asian leopard taxonomy

The Persian or Caucasian leopard, the largest leopard subspecies, ranges across the Caucasus, Iran, and Central Asia and is recognized as Panthera pardus tulliana following nomenclatural review. This overview examines its taxonomy, including how molecular and morphological data delineate Southwest Asian leopards and how the applicable subspecies name shifted as historical types were reassessed. It discusses the relationship of Persian leopards to Arabian and other Asian forms and the biogeographic role of the Iranian plateau as a leopard stronghold. The piece highlights the conservation stakes: a clear subspecies designation supports transboundary protection across a politically complex region. It exemplifies how both genetics and nomenclatural rules shape the names applied to a major, wide-ranging Asian leopard lineage.