Facts About Black Panthers The Animal

Black Panther is not species
Black Panthers are not a separate species, is actually a phenomenon called melanism. It may occur also in smaller animals of the cat family as serval and jaguarundi, but we call the Panthers only big cats.

Usually leopard
Black Panther is the most common leopard (Panthera pardus) or sometimes jaguar (Panthera onca), whose fur is black instead of, as usual with these animals, golden yellow streaked with black rosettes. In appropriate lighting conditions can discern markings on the fur.

Melanism
Melanism in cats is a genetically determined characteristic, which does not affect fertility or quality of life, and holders can mate with normal individuals.

Black leopard
Black leopard is the most common type of black panther in captivity. It is grown specifically for zoos and trade with exotic pets. In nature, every third leopard is born as a black panther. Black leopards are a little smaller than normal colored and black fur is inherited autosomal recessive.

“Black lion”
The black fur with a jaguar is inherited autosomal dominant. The black jaguar was the object of admiration of Indians, and also immigrants who called it “black lion”. However, by mating lions and black jaguar; cubs will not be black colored, but there will be a mixing of black and orange-yellow color, as well as patterns that are characteristic for a jaguar.

Nocturnal predators
Leopards are manoeuvrable predators who hunt from ambush. Although smaller than most cats in the genus Panthera, can overcome large prey because of the large skull and strong jaw muscles. For Black Panthers is harder to hunt prey during the day as it stand out because of their black color. Therefore become nocturnal predators.