Leopard pattern: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:18, 22 August 2017

Revision as of 06:17, 10 June 2018

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A '''leopard''' pattern is a spotted color pattern, particularly in the hair coat or skin of [[animal]]s, but can also describe spotting patterns in [[plant]]s and [[fabric]]s. The term refers to 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.

Examples of animals with coloring patterns termed ''leopard'' include many great cats in the genus ''[[Panthera]]'' genus, the [[leopard frog]], the "leopard" spotting pattern in the [[Appaloosa]] and [[Knabstrupper]] breeds of [[horse]]s, the [[leopard seal]], insects such as the [[giant leopard moth]], and fish species such as the [[leopard darter]], [[leopard shark]], and the [[leopard eel]]. Examples of plants that use the term include the [[Dieffenbachia|leopard lily]], and the [[Belamcanda chinensis|leopard flower]].

The ''Lp'' ([[leopard complex]]) gene is responsible for the leopard color pattern in [[horse]]s, which not only produces a spotted [[equine coat color|coat color]] but also causes [[mottling]] of the skin, a white [[sclera]] around the eye, and striped [[horse hoof|hooves]]. Horses with the ''Lp'' gene may be spotted all over, or may have concentrations of spots in various patterns.