Top Amazing Facts About Black Panthers - Panthers attack

Did you know black panthers are infact leopards and jaguars who have a rare mutation called melanism that makes their fur turn a dark black color. In this video you will see interesting facts about black panthers. Let's get started! The "black panther" is a black jaguar of the Americas or a black leopard of Asia and Africa. In fact, the black panther actually has normal rosettes (spots), they are often just too hard to see because the animal's fur is so dark. Melanism is the name of the dark color pigmentation mutation in a jaguar or leopard that cause the fur to be blackish, it occurs in about 6% of the population. Because the melanism gene is a dominant gene in jaguars, a black jaguar may produce either black or spotted cubs, while a pair of spotted jaguars can only have spotted cubs. Apart from color the black panther is believed to be less fertile than normal-colored big cats and also much more unpredictable and aggressive. From head to tail, the Panther measures 5-9 feet and weighs 70-190 pounds. Its hue ranges from dark brown to black. Their heads are pretty small, their jaws are robust and strong, their ears are rounded, their eyes are emerald green, and their legs are muscular. Their back legs are bigger and longer than their front legs. Black panthers are great swimmers and are one of the strongest tree climbing big cats, often pouncing on prey from a tree, they are capable of leaping up to 20 feet to catch their prey. The opposite of melanism is albinism, which is even rarer in these big cats. It causes the fur to turn completely white. The reason that this mutation is so rare is that it is a huge disadvantage for the cat. A “white panther” cannot camouflage itself when it is hunting. This makes it much harder for this type of cat to catch its prey, which usually leads to starvation. This is not true for a “black panther”. Their dark color allows them to blend in with the shadows of the forest, which helps them be effective hunters. Panthers are incredibly versatile creatures that can thrive in a variety of habitats including marshes, swamps, and grasslands. They’re also found in harsh environments like mountains and deserts. In the wild, panthers may live up to 12 years, while in captivity, they can live up as long as 20 years. Panthers, especially males, are solitary and territorial creatures who often inhabit a wide area. Female panthers are often seen to share territory, while male panthers typically do not. Panthers signal their presence with scratches or vocalizations. Most intruders are kept out of black panther territory through scent marking using their urine or feces. They are also quick and clever. The panther has a peak speed of 50 miles per hour. Panthers are nocturnal creatures. They typically hunt at night and spend the majority of their time sleeping up in the trees during the day. They have been known to eat rabbits, birds, deer, and monkeys. Cougars and leopards will kill their prey by biting their prey’s throat to suffocate them. Jaguars will usually use their strong jaws to crush their prey’s skull. Panthers also frequently attack livestock and pets, including cows, goats, pigs, as well as dogs and cats. Due to this thread people hunt a lot of panthers. The gestation period for a female panther is around 3 months, and results in a litter of 2-4 cubs being born. Panthers usually give birth in a safe den. The male plays no part in the raising of panther cubs, which stay with their mother for almost 2 years. Panther cubs are actually born blind and only open their eyes between the day of 4 and 9. During their first year, cubs just have about 50% chance of surviving as other predators prey on their cubs when their mother is out hunting for food. After reaching 4 to 6 months of age, the panther babies follow their mother around when she is looking for prey, and learn to hunt. Young panthers are fast learners and can bring down a medium-sized prey by the time they reach 10 to 12 months of age. One of the more somber panther facts is that these animals are extremely rare. This is partly because of genetics, but also because these magnificent creatures and their habitats are at risk, increasingly so in recent times. Human activity, such as industrial deforestation, is greatly reducing the amount of territory available for these big cats to live on. Furthermore, the hunting of panthers for their fur, or for other trophies, has caused a vast decline in their numbers, along with those of regular leopards and jaguars. Panthers are now considered to be endangered, since, although they are not a distinct species, both leopards and jaguars are considered to be threatened.