What former genus name was once used for the snow leopard? Uncia.
The snow leopard was long classified in the monotypic genus Uncia, giving rise to the former scientific combination Uncia uncia. Modern phylogenetic research places it in Panthera, alongside lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars, so its current scientific name is Panthera uncia.
Uncia was proposed as a genus in 1854 by zoologist John Edward Gray for Asian cats with long, thick tails. Earlier names included Felis uncia, introduced in the 18th century. The snow leopard is now generally treated as the sole living species of its kind, although proposed subspecies classifications have been debated.
A common mix-up is confusing Uncia with a current genus. It is not the snow leopard’s accepted modern genus; it is the historical genus name that the question asks for. The English word “ounce,” once used for the animal, also shares a naming history with uncia.