Leopards typically are a light tan colour with a rosette-patterned coat and a long tail. They have a large skull and massive jaw muscles. Some leopards are completely black and are known as panthers. They can be born in the same litter as normally marked cats. Observations indicate that these are most generally found in dense forest areas of India and SE Asia where the dark coat offers an advantage in camouflage. Panthers are mostly found in the dense, wet forested areas of India and south east Asia.

The leopard is sometimes confused in appearance with the jaguar. Leopards are less stocky and have smaller rosette markings without internal spots. The base coloration of the coat varies depending on location.