The snow leopard (Uncia uncia),
Sometimes known as the
ounce, is a moderately large
cat native to the mountain ranges of
Central Asia. The classification of this species has been subject to change and its exact
taxonomic position is still unclear.
It cannot roar, despite possessing an incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone. The presence of this ossification was previously thought to be essential for allowing the big cats to roar. However, new studies show that the ability to roar is due to other morphological features, especially of the larynx, which are absent in the snow leopard
