Leopard catshark large black spots. Subsequent authors have recognized these names as based on pattern variants of the leopard catshark; resolving the identity of "P. marleyi" proved especially problematic and it was not confirmed to be a synonym of this species until 2003. The valid scientific name of the leopard catshark is considered to be "Poroderma pantherinum", attributed to Müller and Henle as they were responsible for the description. The specific epithet "pantherinum" refers to the panther-like patterning of the type specimen, a long female collected off the Cape of Good Hope. Other common names for this shark include barbeled catshark and
African leopard yellow to deep gold or tawny, and sometimes black, and is patterned with black rosettes while the head, lower limbs and belly are spotted with solid black. Male leopards are larger, averaging with being the maximum weight attained by a male. Females weigh about on average. The African leopard is sexually dimorphic; males are larger and heavier than females. Between 1996 and 2000, 11 adult leopards were radio-collared on Namibian farmlands. Males weighed only, and females . The heaviest known leopard weighed about , and was recorded in South West Africa. According to Alfred Edward Pease, black leopards in North