Why do leopards have spots?
A leopard's spots help it hide in the spotty light under trees.
Pip’s answer
- A leopard's spots help it hide in the spotty light under trees.
- Sunlight shining through leaves makes little spots of light and shadow.
- The leopard's spots look just like that, so it is super hard to see!
- Ooh, a leopard's spots are shaped like little roses, called rosettes!
For grown-ups
Leopards' spots, called rosettes, mimic the dappled light and shadow under trees. This camouflage helps them sneak up on prey and hide while resting in branches. Rosette patterns are unique to each leopard, like fingerprints.
Ask your child: What other animals use spots or stripes to hide?
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