Yes, there are. I have several pure pardalis pardalis from three different breeders here in the U.S.
The paper that re-defined this species and consolidated everything into one single species with no recognized subspecies acknowledged 11 distinct clades within the huge range that each had distinct observable morphological differences. Our SA leopards here in this country would be from one of those clades, and the regular leopards that have been mixed with each other for so many years here are most likely mixed from several of these clades.11 clades? Please explain more
@Tom - I think he wants you to tell what "clades" meansThe paper that re-defined this species and consolidated everything into one single species with no recognized subspecies acknowledged 11 distinct clades within the huge range that each had distinct observable morphological differences. Our SA leopards here in this country would be from one of those clades, and the regular leopards that have been mixed with each other for so many years here are most likely mixed from several of these clades.
Ahh. I think @Will would be much better at a definition than me, but I'll take a stab at explain my understanding of the term.@Tom - I think he wants you to tell what "clades" means
Are those pictures from a breeder in Texas? They look like similar photos to a breeder I've seen in Texas
The babies in your original post do look pure. The only way to potentially verify that they are pure is if the breeder can provide you exact information on where the adults originate.By no mean these leopard were beautiful it’s Justin not what I’m looking for. I just use this picture as a compare.
This image from Sowerby and Lear is said by Loveridge and Williams to be THE type specimen that Bell used to suggest these are S. p.p. and the other are S.p.b.
Read the diagnosis.
Now you know what is a true S.p.p. from an S.p.b. based on that taxonomic use of the time.
But as Fritz has pointed out shape and size are not uniform per genetic haplotype.
So what you all are calling True Sp.p. are just a group selected for by traits you like. That makes them a breed like a dog breed.
vive la différence
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I think so. It is what scientists who know more about this kind of chelonian study, than I, have determined. There is much variation even within a stable single geographic variant, phenotype.Can we conclude they are in fact the same specie but just a area difference make them grow different?