Barbary leopard

The Barbary Leopard was originally formed as a distinct subspecies of leopard in the far north of Africa (Panthera pardus panthera ) described. However, neither genetic nor morphological differences in skull structure have been observed in various studies that would justify a separation of the North African population as a distinct subspecies. This is also true for all other originally described as a subspecies of the African forms. Therefore today all African leopards are within the subspecies of the African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus ) combined in the rule.

The leopard is almost extinct today in North Africa. A small remnant population exists in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, alleged sightings were also younger reported for the year 2007 from the border area between Morocco and Algeria. In addition, the leopard was confirmed in 2006 in the Ahaggar Mountains in the Algerian desert, where the species was previously never been proven. There may be also a few leopards in the eastern desert areas of Egypt.