Black leopard (Panthera pardus)

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You may want to call these cats black panthers, but there's really no such animal. "Panther" is a generic work used to describe many large cats, especially black ones, but also Florida panthers which are just a subspecies of cougar. We have both black leopards and black jaguars here - they're often born in the same litter as the normal colored cats, because the black color, called melanism, is due to a recessive gene. So, melanistic cubs can be born to two spotted parents. The cats are actually dark brown, with the same pattern of black spots as any other leopard. There are no solid black big cats.

Black Leopards at EFBC/FCC

  • Meesha
    		•  meesha Female, born approximately 10/91. Was found in a boxcar with several other big cats up in Washington. Mother of several cubs, she is now fixed.More Photos - With Cub, On Log
  • Roby
    		•  roby Son of Meesha and Isaac, born here 15 September 1995. Has a sister (littermate) named Niah, now in Seoul, South Korea. Handraised, still enjoys pets from many volunteers (from outside the cage). Doesn't like men in general, especially if they resemble our vet.Photo history at births_1995.
  • Tran
    		•  tran Son of Meesha and Isaac, born here on 1 October 1996. Littermate of Kota (who moved to Memphis Zoo in 2007). Mother raised, and so not friendly at all.Photo history at births_1996.

    Video/sounds of our black leopards
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