Black leopard in savanna?

Question

Have any black leopards been found in the African savannas/grasslands? I know they live in more of a jungle setting usually, but I've heard rumors from tour guides and visitors in places like the grasslands of Tanzania and Kenya that they've seen the flash of a large dark cat as if runs away. Care to shed some light on the topic?

Answer 1

Can't comment on the rumous - but can say a black leopard is generally known as a Panther .....

Answer 2

I wouldn't think that they could survive in a savannah unless they hunted only at night. That black coat would give them away to their prey.

Answer 3

Melanism - an excess of the dark pigment melanin - can occur in any population, so it's certainly possible for black leopards (commonly called panthers) to occur on the African savannah. However, as you say, it is more common in jungle areas, where dark colouration is less of a disadvantage (meaning a melanistic individual has more chance of surviving and passing on its genes). Black leopards have been seen in the African jungle, but seem to be more common in Asia.