Panther is a general term used to describe various types of wild cats. The word “panther” comes from the Latin word “panthēra,” which comes from the Greek word “pánthēr,” a term that means “large spotted cat.” The word “panther’ is also similar to pundarikam, which is Sanskrit for tiger.

Panthera is a biological classification (the scientific identification of animals as individuals and in relationship to one another). It falls under the Felidae (cat) family and Pantherinae subfamily. Members of the Panthera include the lion, tiger, jaguar, and leopard.

Types of Panthers

Black Panthers

black panther and a jaguarWild cats that have a dark (melanistic) color are often referred to as “panthers” or “black panthers,” including big and small wild cats such as jaguars, leopards and jaguarundi. The word “melanin” means black or dark. Melanin is a type of  pigment (coloring).

If you look closely at a melanistic cat’s skin, you will see the markings typically associated with that species. Large black (melanistic) wild cats in captivity are usually leopards or jaguars.

A litter can include both melanistic and non-melanistic cats.

Because most melanistic wild cats were found in jungles with less light than other types of environments, it was believed that the melanism (dark coloring) was an inherited trait or condition that aided the cat’s survival – an evolutionary process of natural selection. New research suggests that melanism might be a helpful immune system mutation.

If you see a black panther in Africa or Asia, it is a leopard. A black panther in North, Central or South America is a jaguar.

Black Panthers in Asia and Africa (Leopards)

You will find black leopards amongst different African and Asian leopard species:

  • Javan leopard (Panthera p. melas)
  • African leopard (Panthera p. pardus)
  • Indian leopard (Panthera p. fusca)
  • Indochinese leopard (Panthera p. delacouri)
  • Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera p. kotiya)
  • Arabian leopard (Panthera p. nimr)
  • Amur leopard (Panthera p. orientalis)

Black Panthers in the Americas (Jaguars)

The offspring of jaguars can be either black or spotted.  Two spotted jaguars who mate will only have spotted cubs. A black jaguar would have either two black jaguar parents, or one black and one spotted jaguar parent.

White Panther

Two white jaguar panthers.White panthers can refer to white cougars, white leopards and white jaguars. The white condition can occur for different reasons, including:

  • Leucism – a reduction in pigmentation
  • Albinism – the absence of pigmentation
  • Genetic mutation

Florida Panther

image of a Florida pantherPanther is one of the cougar’s many names. There is even a cougar named the “Florida panther. ” The Florida panther is a subspecies of the cougar that inhabits southern Florida in the United States.

Florida panthers are an endangered species – less than 100 are believed to exist in the wild. At birth, a Florida Panther has spots and blue eyes. As they get older, the spots start to fade and the cat’s fur turns tan, while the eyes turn yellow. The cat has a black-tipped tail and ears. The underbelly of the cat is white. Males can be over 7 feet long and weigh up to 159 lbs.

Florida panthers prey on hares, ice, deer, feral pigs, storks, waterfowl and alligators. Females panthers raise their kittens in dens. The kittens will stay in the den for the first 6 weeks, and then start hunting with their mother. They become independent at around 2 years of age.

 

Famous Panthers

the jungle book panther

In The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, a panther is one of the main characters (Bagheera). The Jungle Book has also been made into a movie. Bagheera is a black panther (Indian leopard). The word means “black panther” in Hindu.  Not all adaptions of The Jungle Book depict a black leopard. Sometime the image of an Indian leopard is used.

 

The Pink Panther is a film series about the escapades of a French police detective (Inspector Jacques Clouseau). There is an the pink pantheranimated pink panther that appears in the opening and closing credits. “Pink Panther” actually referred to the first film’s fictional pink diamond that was extremely large and valuable.

The film series also has a “Pink Panther” musical composition written by Henry Mancini. The cartoon character was crated by David DePatie and Friz Freleng. DePaie and Freleng formed their own animation company that was active from 1963 to 1981. Their work included The Pink Panther and the lightsaber effects in the Star Wars film series.

 

The black panther movieThe Black Panther is a fictional superhero appearing in Marvel comic books and a recent film. His name is T’Challa and he is the king of Wakanda (chieftain of the Wakandan Panther Clan), a fictional African country.

The character first appeared in 1966 Fantastic Four comic book. For a short time in the 1970s,  the Black Panther tried using Black Leopard as a name to avoid being confused with the Black Panther Party. His abilities include enhanced strength, speed, agility, stamina, quick reflexes, acute senses and healing.

In addition to comic books and movies,  Black Panther has appeared on TV and video games.

 

Find a Florida panther conservation organization…

 


Comments

Panther — 1 Comment

  1. I have seen many examples of wild animals being raised from cubs by humans and bonding with them. I like the idea of being near a wild cat that is tamed. I was with a wolf that was tamed. Quite an experience. I takes dedication and understanding to raise a wild animal. There are dietary considerations, but bonding with them & socializing them takes much time & dedication. Most people don’t have either so it becomes a bad idea.

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