An international team of researchers has uncovered the first-ever fossils of snow leopards, shedding light on the evolutionary path of this endangered species throughout the Quaternary period. The study, published in Science Advances, traces the movement of snow leopards from their origins on the Tibetan plateau to the Iberian Peninsula, far from their familiar high-altitude Himalayan habitats. The research suggests that snow leopards favor rocky terrain and cold environments over extreme altitudes, offering new insights that could aid in the conservation of this iconic species.
The study was led by Qigao Jiangzuo from Peking University and Joan Madurell Malapeira from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are critically endangered, with only around 4,000 individuals remaining in the wild. These large cats primarily inhabit high-altitude regions above 2,000 meters, mainly in the Himalayas. Despite their well-known physical traits, their adaptation to the Tibetan plateau and evolutionary history have remained largely a mystery due to the absence of fossil records in Tibet and its neighboring areas. Prior to this study, potential fossil evidence had been found in northern China and Europe, but the species’ identity and evolutionary lineage were not confirmed.
For the first time, the research team identified five snow leopard fossils from China, France, and Portugal, dating back approximately one million years. By examining these samples, the team was able to map out the species’ evolutionary development and ecological adaptations during the Quaternary period, modeling its possible geographic spread over time. The research combined morphometric and phylogenetic analyses with mathematical species distribution models.
Unique Adaptations of Snow Leopards
The study highlights several features that distinguish snow leopards from their more common relatives, the leopards (Panthera pardus). While common leopards are built for hunting fast, agile prey in forested environments, snow leopards have developed adaptations for surviving in harsh, rocky mountain terrains. These include larger teeth, domed skulls, and more powerful jaws and paws, perfect for capturing large, muscular prey like mountain goats.
Beyond these traits, snow leopards also possess adaptations that support their survival in rugged, barren landscapes. Their enhanced binocular vision, larger cranial structures for improved hearing, and powerful limbs designed for steep jumps were all key developments during the Quaternary period, particularly from the Middle Pleistocene, about 500,000 years ago.
These adaptations coincide with the colder phases of the last Ice Ages, when snow leopards expanded their range beyond the Himalayas into central China and even westward to the Iberian Peninsula. In the early 2000s, a remarkable fossil discovery in Porto de Mós, Portugal, revealed a partial leopard skeleton, including a nearly perfectly preserved skull. This fossil has now been identified as an unexpected relative of the snow leopard lineage in Western Europe.
Expanding Range and Conservation Implications
The research suggests that about 900,000 years ago, the intensification of glaciations across Eurasia created more open landscapes, enabling snow leopards to spread into areas like Portugal, where they survived until around 40,000 years ago. Joan Madurell Malapeira, a researcher at UAB’s Department of Geology, explains, “We propose that the gradual onset of glaciations created more open spaces, allowing snow leopards to reach Portugal, where they lived until relatively recently.”
This discovery has important implications for snow leopard conservation. The study challenges long-held beliefs that snow leopards are primarily confined to high-altitude, snow-covered environments. Instead, the evidence suggests that their preference for steep, rocky terrain may have been the key factor in their habitat choices.
“The analyses suggest that high altitudes and snow were likely not the main constraints on their distribution. Rather, the availability of open, rugged spaces was more important. Snow leopards have always been adapted to mountainous areas, but not necessarily at high altitudes or with snow. This is an encouraging finding in light of current climate change, which may help ensure their survival,” says Malapeira.
Future research will delve into the neuroanatomy and ecology of the snow leopard fossil from Algar da Manga Larga, further uncovering the fascinating evolutionary history of this iconic predator.
