Evolution: Lion Versus Snow Leopard
BIOLOGY RESEARCH PAPER
EVOLUTION LION versus SNOW LEOPARD
Tutor: Nguyen Thi Lap
Student: Le Hoang Thu
Class: 8D-UEB I. Introduction
Evolution is the process of change in all forms of life over generations, and evolutionary biology is the study of how evolution occurs. Given the right circumstances, and enough time, evolution leads to the emergence of new species.
For instance, both Lion and Snow Leopard are parts of Panthera – a genus of the family Felidae, but they belong to two different species which are called the Lions and the Leopards, respectively. Although at the first time they had the same ancestor and but after that they evolved in diverse ways because of mutations, genetic drift and natural selection, so two new species are created. The happened evolution in this research paper will be made clear through the comparison in similarities and differences between Lion and Snow Leopard.
II. General information
The Lion (Panthera Leo) is known as king of the jungle because of its huge size and ferocious appearance. They are found in most of Africa, across Eurasia from Western Europe to India, even in the Americas. The Lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline over the past two decades.
The Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) is a moderately large cat which live between 3000 and 5500 metres (9800 and 18000 ft) above sea level in the rocky mountain ranges of Central and South Asia []. The Snow Leopards are rarely seen because they remain on the endangered species list classified as C1.
III. Comparisons 1. Phenotype
One of the easiest points to distinguish these two species is based on their appearances. Lion coloration varies from light buff to yellowish, reddish or dark brown. Lions are the only members of the family Felidae to display a clear look distinctly different through a thick mane, which only appear on male while it is difficult to know the sex of Snow Leopards []. On the
EVOLUTION LION versus SNOW LEOPARD
Tutor: Nguyen Thi Lap
Student: Le Hoang Thu
Class: 8D-UEB I. Introduction
Evolution is the process of change in all forms of life over generations, and evolutionary biology is the study of how evolution occurs. Given the right circumstances, and enough time, evolution leads to the emergence of new species.
For instance, both Lion and Snow Leopard are parts of Panthera – a genus of the family Felidae, but they belong to two different species which are called the Lions and the Leopards, respectively. Although at the first time they had the same ancestor and but after that they evolved in diverse ways because of mutations, genetic drift and natural selection, so two new species are created. The happened evolution in this research paper will be made clear through the comparison in similarities and differences between Lion and Snow Leopard.
II. General information
The Lion (Panthera Leo) is known as king of the jungle because of its huge size and ferocious appearance. They are found in most of Africa, across Eurasia from Western Europe to India, even in the Americas. The Lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline over the past two decades.
The Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) is a moderately large cat which live between 3000 and 5500 metres (9800 and 18000 ft) above sea level in the rocky mountain ranges of Central and South Asia []. The Snow Leopards are rarely seen because they remain on the endangered species list classified as C1.
III. Comparisons 1. Phenotype
One of the easiest points to distinguish these two species is based on their appearances. Lion coloration varies from light buff to yellowish, reddish or dark brown. Lions are the only members of the family Felidae to display a clear look distinctly different through a thick mane, which only appear on male while it is difficult to know the sex of Snow Leopards []. On the
References: 3. Sunquist, Mel; Sunquist, Fiona (2002). Wild cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 377–394 4 5. Boitani, Luigi, Simon & Schuster 's Guide to Mammals. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone Books (1984), ISBN 978-0671428051 6 7. "Snow Leopard profile" (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/snow-leopard.html). National Geographic. 2008. 8. Weissengruber, GE; G Forstenpointner (http://www.pubmedcentralnih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1570911) 9 [ 4 ]. Sunquist, Mel; Sunquist, Fiona (2002). Wild cats of the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 377–394 [ 5 ] [ 6 ]. Boitani, Luigi, Simon & Schuster 's Guide to Mammals. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone Books (1984), ISBN 978-0671428051 [ 7 ] [ 8 ]. "Snow Leopard profile" (http:/ / animals. nationalgeographic. com/ animals/ mammals/ snow-leopard. html). National Geographic. 2008. . [ 9 ]. Weissengruber, GE; G Forstenpointner (http:/ / www. pubmedcentral. nih. gov/ articlerender. fcgi?artid=1570911) [ 10 ]