<Li> Uncia uncia Pocock, 1930 </Li> <P> The snow leopard or ounce (Panthera uncia) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia . It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because the global population is estimated to number less than 10,000 mature individuals and decline about 10% in the next 23 years . As of 2016, the global population was estimated at 4,678 to 8,745 mature individuals . </P> <P> The snow leopard inhabits alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft), ranging from eastern Afghanistan to Mongolia and western China . In the northern range countries, it also occurs at lower elevations . </P> <P> Taxonomically, the snow leopard was initially classified in the monotypic genus Uncia . Since 2008, it is considered a member of the genus Panthera based on results of genetic studies . Two subspecies were described based on morphological differences, but genetic differences between the two have not been confirmed . It is therefore regarded a monotypic species . </P>

Where do snow leopards live in the wild