African leopards have surprisingly high genetic diversity

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found that the genetic diversity of African leopards is surprisingly high compared to that of other big cat species.  In particular, the amount of genetic variation among African leopards is almost four times higher than what is found in populations of  Amur leopards, two times higher than lions, and five times higher than genetic diversity in cheetahs. Genetic diversity is a very important factor that influences a species' ability to survive and adapt to future changes. The specialized diet of large …