"Their Favorite Resting Place!"
			Some Leopards appear to be black. This 'melanism' is one of the most striking of aberrant coat patterns. This Leopard looks perfectly normal, but the 'melanistic' leopard looks totally black. Its spots and markings are still present and visible when the light hits the coat from the right angle. Melanism is caused by a recessive gene, which is apparently more prevelant in forests, where it would be an advantage for a nocturnal predator. The Jaguar of the Americas also exhibits melanism.
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