File:Black_Panther_-_India.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
black panther
Sign in to saveAlso known as black leopard, black jaguar
melanistic color variant of any of several species of larger cat
A black panther is a melanistic color variant—meaning it has excess dark pigmentation—found in several species of larger cats like leopards and jaguars. It matters because it's a striking example of natural genetic variation in wildlife and has become culturally significant in art, literature, and symbolism across many societies.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
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Encyclopedic overview
A melanistic Indian leopard in Nagarhole National Park, Karnataka
A black panther is the melanistic colour variant of the leopard (Panthera pardus) and the jaguar (Panthera onca). Black panthers of both species have excess black pigments, but their typical rosettes are also present. They have been documented mostly in tropical forests, with black leopards in Africa and Asia, and black jaguars in Central and South America. Melanism is caused by a recessive allele in the leopard, and by a dominant allele in the jaguar.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “black panther” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.