Animals and skill points

[draco_nite]

I notice that all of the monsters in the Monster Manual have way too many skill points for their hit die and int.

Should I treat all of these extra skill points as racial bonuses?

[Kylarra]

The listed skills are with all modifiers already included.

[draco_nite]

The listed skills are with all modifiers already included.

I was going to say that it still had too many, but then I find that leopards have all of these racial bonuses.

Durp.

Now I need to check the Pathfinder Bestiary to see if THEY'RE not breaking the rules.

[AslanCross]

It's funny you talk about breaking the rules, because there really are a lot of monsters that get bonus feats and racial skill bonuses simply because it fits the fluff of the monster. I do prefer to design monsters within the general parameters, but even the Monster Manual says the DM is within rights to give monsters abilities they don't possess as written.