What is a Black Panther?

The term ‘Black Panther’ is quite often used in connection with large black cats -

however there is no one distinct species of wild cat called a Black Panther.

Over the years it has become used as a common name

which can be applied to any large black coated cat.

When you see a picture of a Black Panther it is most likely that you are looking at either a

 Leopard or possibly a Jaguar with Melanistic coloration.

The term Melanistic is derived from the word ‘melanin’, a dark coloured skin and hair pigment.

In cats, melanism results in the fur of the animal being very dark or black in colour.

In many cases the usual markings of the animal can be faintly seen through the dark fur,

 especially at certain angles in bright sunlight.

Melanism occurs because of a mutation or abnormality of one of the

cats genes which is associated with coat coloration and markings.

Melanism is hereditary, but is not necessarily passed directly from one generation to the next -

it is therefore common to see ‘mixed’ litters with one

 black cub along side normally coloured brothers and sisters.

Melanisim can also occur in other species of wild cat - black coated caracal,

Geoffrey’s cat, margay, bobcat, ocelot, jaguarundi and serval have been noted in the

 smaller cats as well as occasional mention of the coloration in the larger lion, tiger and cougar.

What is a Black Panther? -

 The term 'Black Panther' is quite often used in connection with large black cats -

 however there is no one distinct species of wild cat called a Black Panther.

There is also the florida panther

What do the cats whiskers do? -

The whiskers on the cat are specialized sensory hairs grouped in three specific locations on the cats head.

Just what do these whiskers do?

Why do cats eyes glow in the dark? -

Why do cats eyes glow in the dark?

Why is it that large cats do not have slit-type eyes like the domestic cats.