How the Leopard Hides Its Spots: ASIP Mutations and Melanism in Wild Cats

This study extended earlier work on feline melanism by surveying agouti signaling protein and melanocortin-1 receptor variation across wild cat species, including the leopard. The authors characterized the mutations underlying black coats in additional felids and examined how the spotted pattern remains faintly visible beneath the dark pigment of melanistic leopards and jaguars, the so-called ghost rosettes. They discussed the geographic distribution of melanism, its association with forest and high-rainfall habitats, and the evolutionary forces that might favor dark morphs in some environments. The work deepened understanding of how a small set of pigmentation genes generates recurrent melanism throughout the cat family.