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Black Panther - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Bobcat, Catamount, Cheetah, Cougar, Jaguar, Leopard, Lion, Lynx, Ocelot, Painter, Puma, Simba, Tiger, Wildcat |
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- This article is about the black panther, the variety of big cat. For other meanings of the term, see Black panther (disambiguation).
The black panther is a genetic variant of several species of cats.
It does not exist as a separate species. The variant is most common in jaguars (Panthera onca), and leopards (Panthera pardus). Close examination of one of these black cats will show that the typical markings are still there, and are simply hidden by the surplus of the black pigment melanin. Cats with melanism can co-exist with litter mates that do not have this condition, nor does it mean that either parent exhibited this trait. It is probable that melanism is a favorable evolutionary mutation with a selective advantage for its possessor, since it is more commonly found in regions of dense forest, where light levels are lower.
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