VERY INTERESTING: PANTHER

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Panther Facts

A Panther Is Actually a Jaguar or a Leopard

It turns out many of us have even the most basic of panther facts wrong. We tend to assume that a panther is an entirely separate species of big cat. However, when we discuss panther facts, we usually actually mean either jaguar or leopard facts, depending on the geographic location. This is because a panther is defined as a melanistic colour variant of other species in the Panthera genus, which includes tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards. 

This color variant usually means that the cat is black or dark brown, since melanism is the development of melanin, a dark-colored pigment in the skin. A panther is therefore usually either a black leopard in Asia and Africa, known as Panthera pardus, or a black jaguar in the Americas, known as Panthera onca.

A Panther’s Black Skin Is Genetic

Melanism can be a useful evolutionary process. Panther facts show that the darker individuals in a species are often better camouflaged, and therefore more likely to survive and reproduce. This is particularly true in certain natural conditions, for example in regions of dense forest with little light, where instances of melanism are more common. In the Panthera onca, the type of panther that comes from the jaguar species, melanism is therefore conferred through a dominant gene. This means that black jaguars can have either black or spotted cubs, but normal jaguars only produce regular spotted cubs.

Panthers Are Native to 3 Different Continents

Since panthers come from different species of big cat, there is a wide variety of panther facts relating to the environments which they can inhabit. Black leopards are common in Africa and Asia. They are found in locations with dense vegetation, such as the slopes of African mountain ranges (Mount Kenya for example) and tropical forests in areas of China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Black jaguars, on the other hand, prefer wet lowlands and savannahs, as well as rainforests. They are found mainly in Central and South America, for example in the Amazon rainforest. Panthers were once present in North America, but have not officially resided on the continent for a long time. There are, however, frequent but unconfirmed sightings of panthers in North America.

The Panther Is a Stealthy Hunter

Panthers are carnivorous, and generally prey upon small to medium-sized herbivores, although exactly which species depends on the environment they are in. Animals which can form a part of their diet include antelope, deer, warthog, tapir, wild boar, rabbits and birds. There are many panther facts relating to this animal’s formidable hunting prowess. 

One of the biggest factors that distinguishes panthers from other big cats is their stealth. Panthers are nocturnal, so hunt at night. Their dark fur allows them to seamlessly camouflage with their surroundings, while their excellent eyesight and sense of smell help them to locate prey. Panthers generally hunt on the ground, but have been known to ambush prey from trees.

Panthers Are Incredibly Quick and Strong

As well as their camouflage ability, there are many other panther facts which add up to make this big cat one fearsome predator. Panthers can run at speeds of up to 35 mph, helping them to catch up with fast prey such as deer and antelope. They are also incredibly agile, and are able to leap up to 20 ft. in pursuit of their prey. Another one of the more unique panther facts relates to their climbing ability. Of all the big cats, panthers are some of the very best at climbing. They often use trees to their advantage, whether for hiding in for safety or for watching and ambushing prey. In addition, their strong jaws enable them to drag heavy prey into the branches of trees in order to feed safely.

Panthers Only Socialize during Mating Season

There are some intriguing panther facts relating to their behavior. The panther is a very solitary animal, and usually lives, hunts and travels alone. The one exception to this rule is during the mating season. When she is ready to mate, the female panther will leave scent markings for the male to follow, and also makes a sawing sound to let him know where she is. After they have mated, the pair will rarely stay together for more than a few days. 

The age of sexual maturity for the female panther is usually around 2 years, and she will have her first litter at around 2 1/2 years old. The male panther is also capable of mating at the age of 2 but, because of fierce competition from older males, does not usually have the opportunity until he is 3 or 4 years old. It is common for fights to break out among male panthers during mating season.

Panthers Are Pregnant for 3 Months

The gestation period for a female panther is around 3 months, and results in a litter of 2-4 cubs being born. Panthers usually give birth in a safe den. The male plays no part in the raising of panther cubs, which stay with their mother for almost 2 years. When they are very young, cubs are small and vulnerable, and are blind for the first 2 weeks of their lives. During this time, predator attacks upon the den can threaten their lives, particularly when the mother is out hunting. 

After a few months, however, the cubs are ready to accompany their mother. One of the more extraordinary panther facts regards just how quickly these young panthers learn. After just 2-3 months, the cubs learn to hunt, and by the age of 9 months they are able to bring down medium-sized prey. Panther cubs are not always born to panther parents, however. 

Since the panther color variant is caused by a dominant gene in jaguars, and a recessive gene in leopards, in either case it can occur in litters of normal jaguar or leopard cubs. This means that a leopard mother, for example, could give birth to a litter of both normal spotted leopards, and black leopards (panthers).

Panthers Are Extremely Rare

One of the more somber panther facts is that these animals are extremely rare. This is partly because of genetics, but also because these magnificent creatures and their habitats are at risk, increasingly so in recent times. Human activity, such as industrial deforestation, is greatly reducing the amount of territory available for these big cats to live on. 

Furthermore, the hunting of panthers for their fur, or for other trophies, has caused a vast decline in their numbers, along with those of regular leopards and jaguars. Panthers are now so rare, and so stealthy, that they are rarely seen by humans at all. For this reason, they are known as the ghosts of the forest. Panthers are now considered to be endangered, since, although they are not a distinct species, both leopards and jaguars are considered to be threatened.

Lorenz Oken Was the First to Describe the Panthera Species

There are many interesting historical panther facts. It is believed that the genus panthera originally evolved in Asia, although its exact roots remain unclear. Members of this genus probably diverged from their subfamily Felinae around 6-10 million years ago. During the last two centuries, we have learned more and more biological panther facts which have helped to classify these creatures. 

In 1816 the German naturalist Lorenz Oken, considering the Felidae family as a whole, distinguished the panthera genus as separate. In 1816 the British taxonomist Reginald Pocock extended and refined these classifications, concluding that the genus contained jaguars, leopards, tigers and lions. He came to this conclusion after studying skulls and skins in London’s Natural History Museum.

A Panther’s Markings Are Visible Through Its Black Coat

Since panthers are defined by the melanin in their skin, when we think of panther facts we tend to imagine a large black or dark brown cat. This is accurate, unless you look very closely! On closer examination, panthers have the same markings as their leopard and jaguar peers, with the pattern visible through the darkness of the coat. This effect is known as “ghost striping”, and has a similar appearance to printed silk.

Mystery Surrounds the ‘North American Black Panther’

While there are many interesting panther facts, these animals also inspire a large amount of speculation. In North America, for example, there have been many sightings of black cats through the ages, which believers claim are melanistic cougars. 

However, no black cougar or mountain lion has ever been photographed, shot or bred in North America, and experts generally agree that it does not exist. Any such reports are attributed to mistaken identity, or mistakes about the size of the creature. This makes the North American black panther a cryptid, that is, an animal whose existence is not proven, or an animal known to exist but alleged to be in an unexpected place.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking