Viewed from the right angle, the spots of the extremely elusive clouded leopard create an amazing 3D optical illusion.

Wow, those spots look so, well, three dimensional! Image credit: Charles Barilleaux

Named for its cloud-like spots, recent genetic studies have shown that clouded leopards are nut simply a type of leopard, but a separate genus. They recently made headlines when rangers in Taiwan spotted a Formosan clouded leopard, a subspecies thought to be extinct and going unseen for over 30 years.

But even before the hopeful news surfaced, professor Liu Chiung-hsi from the Department of Life Science at Taiwan’s National Taitung University told Yahoo News that he wasn’t surprised there hadn’t been a sighting, as the animal is very vigilant and purposely elusive, avoiding any human contact.

And, as the photo below testifies, the clouded leopard’s exclusive spots, which provide perfect camouflage, have definitely helped it to go unnoticed in Taiwan for such a long time.

The cloud-like spots are also perfect to create another sort of illusion – perfect camouflage. Image credit: Dr. Raju Kasambe

Officially recognized as a species in 1821, the clouded leopard is just as mysterious today as it was 200 years ago. The little we do know about these majestic cats comes from caring for them in zoos. Despite their elusiveness, however, their total population is estimated to be less than 10,000 mature individuals, scattered in the remaining dense forests from the foothills of the Himalayas through mainland Southeast Asia into South China.

Having adapted to a life in the trees, clouded leopards are exceptional climbers. They can reach great heights in forest trees, and are incredibly nimble at staying above ground. Helping them are rotating ankles which allow them to climb headfirst down a tree, something very few cats can do.

These animals also have super long teeth, including the largest canine teeth in proportion to the skull among all cats. This trait, which allows them to haul prey much bigger than themselves into a tree, has earned them the nickname “Modern-day saber-tooth tiger.”

Clouded leopards are excellent climbers – probably the best among all cats. Image credit: Charles Barilleaux

Clouded leopards have a rather stocky build and a special place among cats in terms of size, as they are larger than small cats and smaller than big cats! (Males are commonly twice the size of females.) Interestingly, they can purr like small cats do but can also make a low, moaning roar, a growl, a soft chuffle, a hiss, and even meows as part of their calls.

The eyes of clouded leopard cubs are different from those of any other feline’s offspring: they never get fully round as in the case of big cats’ cubs, and neither do they shrink to vertical slits like the eyes of small cats’ kittens do, staying in an oblong shape instead. Clouded leopards also have a stunning tail – the longest, in relation to body size, among all cats, giving them great balance while walking along tree branches.

A clouded leopard flashing its spots that create a 3D optical illusion. Image credit: Charles Barilleaux

And those 3D spots are just fascinating!