Leopard

Cat, Leopard

With each graceful step, this leopard's steely muscles ripple beneath its spotted fur.

XP 600

N Medium animal

Init +4; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +5

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+4 Dex, +1 natural)

hp 19 (3d8+6)

Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +2

OFFENSE

Spd 30 ft., climb 20 ft.

Melee bite +6 (1d6+3 plus grab), 2 claws +6 (1d3+3)

Special Attacks pounce, rake (2 claws +6, 1d3+3)

STATISTICS

Str 16, Dex 19, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6

Base Atk +2; CMB +5 (+9 grapple); CMD 19 (23 vs. trip)

Feats Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Finesse

Skills Acrobatics +8, Climb +11, Perception +5, Stealth +11 (+15 in undergrowth); Racial Modifiers +4 on Stealth in undergrowth

ECOLOGY

Environment any forest

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure none

Leopards are 4 feet long and weigh 120 pounds. The statistics presented here can describe any feline of similar size, such as jaguars, panthers, and mountain lions-what differentiates these big cats from the similarly sized cheetah is primarily their habitats-leopards and their kin prefer to hunt at night and ambush their prey from above, pouncing down from trees or high rocks.

Leopards eat almost any animal they can run down and catch, preferring Small prey but capable of downing Large herbivores or surviving on rodents, birds, and insects. Healthy leopards are generally not aggressive toward humanoids, and if they aren't hungry and don't feel threatened, it is possible to approach closely without a hostile reaction. Yet a leopard that settles in an area bordered by humanoid civilization can easily and swiftly become a dangerous predator.