What is the reason why leopards have spots?

Most likely, the reason leopards have spots is to camouflage themselves into their environment for survival. The light and dark of their coat allow them to blend in with the shadows and sunlight in the grassland and foliage they inhabit. This camouflage provides coverage from other potential predators and from their prey. read more

Rudyard Kipling tackled the question of the leopard's spots in a"Just So" story, stumbling upon the truth that the irregular patterns provide an enormous advantage when hunting. The long-term benefit of spots has been observed by comparing numbers of the spotted leopard with its cousin, the black leopard, which cannot disguise itself outside dense rain forests and darkness. read more

Question Date: 2004-12-09: Answer 1: Spots, stripes, and other markings help to break up the outline of objects. That's why hunters and soldiers wear camouflage and why the military uses camouflage patterns on vehicles. read more