The term “black panther” is commonly misused by people and even researchers are guilty of it. Black panthers have long been classified by wildlife biologists, but somehow the term persists, inferring that it is, indeed, a large, black-coated cat species of its own. Black panthers spotted in the wild are more than likely jaguars or leopards that have melanistic coloration.
What is Melanistic Coloration?
Melanistic comes from the word “melanin”, which is a dark-colored pigmentation of the skin and hair. The effect melanism has on the coats of the big cats is to make the fur black or nearly black in color. Upon close inspection, especially in the sun or a favorable angle, the faint mottled markings of the jaguar or leopard can be seen through the dark fur.
Occasionally, one of the cat’s genes that are linked to coat markings will develop a mutation or abnormality causing melanism to occur. While melanism is not always passed from one generation to another, it is hereditary; therefore, a litter of regularly marked cubs may have one dark sibling in the mix.
Leopards (Panthera pardus) with melanistic coloration are most often found in South East Asia, deep in the tropical rain forests. Biologists believe that the dark coat of the black leopard in combination with the low sunlight makes it easier for hunting. More hunting means more food for its offspring, therefore, more offspring of this particular cat will survive. The next logical thought is that the melanistic gene survives because more cubs are alive to carry it.
The Jaguar (Panthera onca) has lived a range from the southern states of the United States, down to the tip of South America. However, it now centers on the north and central part of South America. The jaguars found in the dense forests of the Amazon basin are the most likely candidate for melanistic coloration for the same reasons as the leopards living in those habitats.
When jaguars and leopards are both wearing a melanistic coat, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two big cats. A couple of clues would be that the jaguars have a large head with shorter, stocky forelimbs than the leopard, whose legs and head are leaner.
Other Wild Cats that can Have Black Coats
Although primarily seen in jaguars and leopards, melanism isn’t limited to these species. Other cat species are capable of showing up with this coat characteristic such as ocelots, bobcats, Geoffrey’s cat, jaguarundis, severals, and margays. There has also been melanism found in the occasional tiger, cougar, and lion.
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