Leopard! The mere mention of this big cat conjures up the image of the master of stealth, the terror of the night. While the lion is certainly bigger and a dangerous prey to be sure, the leopard’s stalking skills, nocturnal habits and unpredictable nature make it a force to be reckoned with. Here are the top ten leopards as recorded in the SCI Record Book. Enjoy!

#9B David Tofte took this beauty near Limpopo, RSA in 2014. It measures 18 2/16″

#10B This 18 1/16″ Leopard was taken in 2013 near Shangani, Zimbabwe by Paulo Augusto De Maria Botelho.

#4 In 2009, Phillip Hoisington took this spotted beauty near Windhoek, Namibia. It measured 18 15/16″.

#2 Rodney A. Klein poses with his leopard taken in 2001 in Kalahari, R.S.A. It measures 19 10/16″.

#10A Kirk Kelso took this 18 1/16″ leopard at Malipati, Zimbabwe in 2005.

#1 Steven Chancellor took the number 1 leopard in 1997 in Okavango, Botswana. This magnificent cat scored 19 11/16″.

#9A R. Jody Adams tied the number 9 spot with this nice leopard near Khomas, Namibia. It measures 1802/16″.

#8B B.H. Smith took this number 8 Ranked cat in Khomas,Namibia in 2008. It measures at 18 4/16″.

#8A William Mosesian took this magnificent leopard in 1975 in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. It measures 18 4/16″. Mr. Mosesian is also tied for the number 5 leopard taken in 1986 measuring 18014/16″. Unfortunately we have no photo of his number 5 leopard.

#7 Dr. R.E. Speegle took this leopard in central Tanzania in 1963. It measured 18 8/16″.

#6 Juan Renedo Sedano took this leopard in 1982 in the Republic of South Africa. It measures 18 10/16″.

#5 Kris Johnson scored this beauty in 2010 near Mabula, R.S.A. It measured 18014/16″.