North Bridgeport in Greater Bridgeport Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Melanism
One of the two Amur leopards at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is melanistic, causing her to appear all black, while the male has the usual coat pattern. At first, a melanistic cat might look solid black, but even melanistic leopards are spotted. If you get a close look, you may be able to see her spots (rosettes).
The term "Black Panther" can refer to any big cat that is all black. The term is not scientifically accurate, however, it most commonly refers to black leopards or black jaguars. At Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, we have Amur Leopards. There are only two melanistic Amur Leopards in AZA accredited zoos at this time.
In leopards, both parents must have the gene for melanism in order for their offspring to appear black. Both of Orion and Kallisto's parents carry this rare gene- they exhibit standard coloration but produced one offspring that has both genes for melanism.
In the wild, melanism can diminish an animal's camouflage (their ability to blend into their surroundings) thus making survival more difficult.
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Amur leopards are a rare subspecies of leopard that has adapted to life in the temperate forests from Northeast China to the Korean peninsula and the Russian Far East. They are often illegally hunted for their beautiful spotted fur.
Erected by Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Parks & Recreational Areas • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is January 25, 2019.
Location. 41° 12.677′ N, 73° 10.799′ W. Marker is in Bridgeport in Greater Bridgeport Region, Connecticut. It is in North Bridgeport. It can be reached from Noble Avenue north of Crown Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport CT 06610, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Connecticut Shoreline. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Fairfield County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Amur Leopard (here, next to this marker); Amur Leopard Range (here, next to this marker); American Alligator (within shouting distance of this marker); Bald Eagle (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Bald Eagle (within shouting distance of this marker);
Additional commentary.
1. Applied Bioethics
This marker highlights an applied issue within bioethics. While intentionally breeding a melanistic Amur leopard would be popular among zoo patrons, ethically, the zoo administration is following the Felid TAG advisement in breeding its leopards to encourage the long-term survival of the subspecies.
— Submitted August 16, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 257 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 16, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
