<P> The snow leopard is part of the Panthera lineage, one of the eight lineages of Felidae . This lineage comprises the species of Panthera and Neofelis . The Neofelis lineage diverged first remainder of the Felinae (see figure). Subsequent branching between the snow leopard and clouded leopard began two to three million years ago, but the details of this are disputed . A 2006 phylogenetic study by Warren E. Johnson (of the National Cancer Institute) and colleagues, based on nDNA and mtDNA analysis, showed that the leopard is sister to two clades within Panthera--one consisting of the tiger and the snow leopard, and the other of the lion and the jaguar . This was seconded by a 2009 study by Lars Werdelin and colleagues . However, the results obtained in a 2010 study by Brian W. Davis (of the Texas A&M University) and colleagues and a 2011 study by Ji H. Mazák (of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum) and colleagues showed a swapping between the leopard and the jaguar in the cladogram . A 2016 study indicates that, at some point in their evolution, snow leopards interbred with lions, as their mitochondrial genomes are more similar to each other than their nuclear genomes . From this research, it is indicated that a female hybrid offspring of male ancestors of modern snow leopards and female ancestors of modern lions interbred with the male ancestors of modern snow leopards . </P> <P> The snow leopard subspecies U. u . baikalensis - romanii was proposed for a population living in the southern Transbaikal region; this requires further evaluation . Authors of the Handbook of the Mammals of the World recognize two subspecies, namely U. u . uncia occurring in Mongolia and Russia; and U. u . uncioides living in western China and the Himalayas . More recently, Janecka et al. have proposed three total subspecies: a Northern (Altai region) P. u . irbis, a Central (core Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau) P. u . uncioides, and Western (Tian Shan, Pamir, trans - Himalaya regions) P. u . uncia . </P> <P> Snow leopards are slightly smaller than the other big cats but, like them, exhibit a range of sizes, generally weighing between 27 and 55 kg (60 and 121 lb), with an occasional large male reaching 75 kg (165 lb) and small female of under 25 kg (55 lb). They have a relatively short body, measuring in length from the head to the base of the tail 75 to 150 cm (30 to 60 in). However, the tail is quite long, at 80 to 100 cm (31 to 39 in), with only the domestic - cat - sized marbled cat being relatively longer - tailed . They are stocky and short - legged big cats, standing about 60 cm (24 in) at the shoulder . </P> <P> Snow leopards have long, thick fur, and their base color varies from smoky gray to yellowish tan, with whitish underparts . They have dark grey to black open rosettes on their bodies, with small spots of the same color on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tails . Unusually among cats, their eyes are pale green or grey in color . </P>

What is the length of a snow leopard