What exactly is a panther?

[sanjay]

I have seen conflicting views in definition of panther. Some says, Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, Snow Leopard, Caracal are called Panther. Other says only Leopard and Puma are Panther.

Few have also claims only Black species of Leopard and Puma are Panther? While few other add black jaguar in this list.

So, What we include in panther? Reply

[Spalea]

Panther and leopard: two names for the same specy. But we say "Black panther" and not "Black leopard" ("Black leopard" is a tea brand...).

Snow leopard, or ounce, is an other specy of the subfamily of the pantherinae and of the genus panthera.

Jaguar is definitely not a leopard, of course, but it seems that we can use the term "Black panther" to designate a jaguar which is black. Thus, both leopards and jaguars that are melanistic are known as black panthers.

Jaguar, leopard (or panther), and snow leopard are felids of the "Panthera" genus.

Among the "felis felids", there is the clouded leopard and the sunda clouded leopard (specific to the Borneo island)

According to the wikipedia source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_leopard

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Balam]

(10-24-2020, 11:00 AM)sanjay Wrote: I have seen conflicting views in definition of panther. Some says, Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, Snow Leopard, Caracal are called Panther. Other says only Leopard and Puma are Panther.

Few have also claims only Black species of Leopard and Puma are Panther? While few other add black jaguar in this list.

So, What we include in panther?

Panther is the most common colloquial term for melanistic big cats (i.e. black leopards and jaguars), it has no scientific basis in and of itself.
Panther is also used to refer to the cougar population in Florida, it's an informal name as well.
Panthera is a genus within the family Felidae that includes the lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard. Pantherinae is the subfamily within Felidae that is comprised of the genuses Panthera and Neofelis (clouded leopards). Unlike "panther" Panthera is a scientific denomination. Reply

[sanjay]

So Black Jaguar, Black Leopard and Puma are Panther? Reply

[Shadow]

(10-24-2020, 09:12 PM)sanjay Wrote: So Black Jaguar, Black Leopard and Puma are Panther?

I think, that it is a question with many answers. Also normal leopards have been called panthers in some places even though most people without a doubt think about black individuals, when someone say panther. Reply

[Sammyfrosh]

Panther is originally the Old Greek word for the leopard but it can also be used for any large black cat like in the case of the black jaguar or any member of the panthera genus. Reply