This creature lurks in the jungle at night, slipping in and out of the dark as if it were just a shadow. In fact, this elusive animal is itself a mystery. It is recognized as at least two different kinds of cat-it's the name given to leopards and jaguars that are born with a genetic mutation that gives them black fur. Some scientists think that some species of black cat are in the middle of an evolutionary trend that will make the entire species black thousands of years in the future.
Camo Coat: Some think that black panthers represent evolution in action. The cats with dark coats are often found in thick jungles and hunt at night so they can blend in with shadows and stalk prey better than their lighter-colored siblings.
Spot On: A black panther's fur isn't entirely black. When sunlight hits one of these cats at the right angle, its markings can be seen as spots or stripes that are a slightly darker shade of black than the cat's coat.
Mutant Cats[]
A closer look reveals the spots on this "panther," which is a black leopard.
The term "black panther" is often used to describe any big black cat seen in the wild. In truth, black panthers are mostly dark-furred jaguars or leopards. The black fur is caused by a mutation called "melanism," a scientific term referring to an increased amount of black pigment in an animal's skin or hair. This black species is growing. In Malaysia, one population of leopards is at least 50 percent black! Melanism is also seen in some smaller cats, such as jaguarundis, ocelots and margays.
No Pumas: Oddly, a true black "panther" doesn't exist. Panther is another name given to the puma, and that creature has never been known to have the black fur mutation. Some claim to have seen one in the U.S., but the reports are unreliable.
What's in a Name? The name "black panther" comes from Panthera, the scientific name for big cats (jaguars, leopards, lions and tigers). Smaller cats (Felis) are also considered "panthers" when their fur is black.
Albinos[]
Just as many species of cat can be born with black fur, they can also be born with white fur. White cats still have their usual markings, though their stripes and spots are more easily seen against the white fur. tigers and lions are the most common species to be born with white fur.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The title of the knowledge card is Black Panthers. The title of the trading card is Black Panther.
- Technically, as the card specifies in the main text on the front, this card covers not an individual species, but rather a mutation present in at least two different species of big cat- Leopard and Jaguar. As such, this card is one of the only ones to not cover an individual species or multiple related species as a whole, but a mutation present within two related species already presented in the series.
- This mutation is even mentioned and shown on the card for the latter.
- As a result, this is the only card to repeat covering a species in the series.
- Albino tigers are also discussed on the Bengal Tiger knowledge card.