Leopard (pattern)

Leopard (pattern)

Leopard is a term used to describe a spotted color pattern, particularly in the hair coat or skin of animals, but also used to describe spotting patterns in plants and fabrics. The term is derived from the black and gold spotted coat of the Leopard cat, but is used to describe many color combinations that result in spots scattered randomly across the skin or hair coat of other animals. Leopard may also be used to describe fabric designs that imitate the coat pattern of Leopards or other animals.

Examples of animals with coloring patterns termed "Leopard" include many great cats in the Panthera species, the Leopard frog, the "Leopard" spotting pattern in the Appaloosa and Knabstrup breeds of horses, the Leopard Seal, insects such as theGiant Leopard Moth, and fish species such as the Leopard darter and the Leopard shark. Examples of plants that use the term include the Leopard Lily, and the Leopard flower.

The leopard color pattern in horses is linked to the "Lp" or Leopard gene, which not only produces a spotted coat color but also causes mottling of the skin, a white sclera around the eye, and striped hooves. Horses with the Lp gene may be spotted all over, or may have concentrations of spots in various patterns.


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  • Leopard (disambiguation) — Leopard can refer to:Animals*Leopard Panthera pardus , the animal *Snow Leopard or Clouded Leopard, big cats distantly related to the leopard *Leopard cat, wildcat species *Leopard (pattern), the spotting pattern characteristic of Leopards *… …   Wikipedia

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  • Leopard — Taxobox name = LeopardMSW3|id=14000250] fossil range = Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene to Recent status = NT status system = iucn3.1 status ref =IUCN2008|assessors=Breitenmoser, U., Breitenmoser Wursten, C., Henschel, P. Hunter,… …   Wikipedia

  • leopard frog — 1. a common North American green frog, Rana pipiens, having white edged, dark oval spots on its back. 2. any of several similar North American frogs. [1830 40, Amer.] * * * ▪ amphibian   group of North American frogs (frog) (family Ranidae)… …   Universalium

  • leopard — /lep euhrd/, n. 1. a large, spotted Asian or African carnivore, Panthera pardus, of the cat family, usually tawny with black markings; the Old World panther: all leopard populations are threatened or endangered. 2. the fur or pelt of this animal …   Universalium

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