Panther

Panthera pardus, Panthera onca

Last updated: January 12, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© Bruce McAdam / Creative Commons / Original

Prefers to hunt at night than during the day!


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Panther Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Panthera
Scientific Name
Panthera pardus, Panthera onca

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Panther Conservation Status


Panther Facts

Prey
Deer, Tapir, Wild Boar
Name Of Young
Cub
Group Behavior
  • Solitary
Fun Fact
Prefers to hunt at night than during the day!
Estimated Population Size
Not Known
Biggest Threat
Habitat loss
Most Distinctive Feature
Bright emerald green eyes
Other Name(s)
Black Panther, Black Leopard, Black Jaguar
Gestation Period
90 - 105 days
Habitat
Forest, swampland and grasslands
Diet
Carnivore
Average Litter Size
3
Lifestyle
  • Nocturnal
Common Name
Panther
Number Of Species
31
Location
Asia, Africa, America
Slogan
Prefers to hunt at night than during the day!
Group
Mammal

Panther Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Black
  • Dark Brown
Skin Type
Fur
Top Speed
71 mph
Lifespan
12 - 15 years
Weight
36kg - 160kg (79lbs - 350lbs)
Length
1.1m - 1.9m (43in - 75in)
Age of Sexual Maturity
3 - 4 years
Age of Weaning
3 months

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Classification

The Panther (also commonly known as the Black Panther) is a large member of the Big Cat family, native to Asia, Africa and the Americas. The Panther is not a distinct species itself but is the general name used to refer to any black-colored feline of the Big Cat family, most notably Leopards and Jaguars. The Panther is an elusive and powerful animal that has adapted well to a variety of habitats around the world, and is known to be one of the strongest climbers of all felines. Although the Panther is not technically classified as a separate species, they are considered to be endangered by many due to the declining numbers of both Leopards and Jaguars throughout much of their natural ranges.

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Types

Anatomy and Appearance

Types of Jaguar - black panther

Panthers may be leopards, jaguars, or more rarely, mountain lions

©AB Photographie/Shutterstock.com

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The Panther tends to be dark brown to black in color and is otherwise identical to the feline species to which it belongs. The only real exception to this is the Florida Panther found in the southeast region of the USA, that is believed to be a subspecies of Cougar and is quite rarely dark brown in color and tends to have more of a speckled appearance. Like Leopards and Jaguars, Panthers also have spots. Though they are so dark they can be difficult (if not impossible) to see against the shiny coat of dark fur. Panthers are animals with small heads, strong jaws, and emerald green eyes and tend to have hind legs that are both larger and slightly longer than those at the front. Being a member of the Big Cat family, the Panther is not only one of the largest felines in the world but it is also able to roar which is something that felines outside of this group are not able to do.

Evolution

Black Panther

Panthers in South America may be closely related to lions

©iStock.com/Aniket Mane



In terms of evolution, the story of the panther shares a few similarities with that of the puma. They include an ancestor which crossed the Bering Strait into North America. In the case of the panther, this forebear is believed to have been the  Panthera gombaszoegensis, the earliest member of the Felidae family to have existed in Europe approximately two million years ago.

As for the Panthera subfamily, scientists aren’t quite certain when it separated from the Felidae family, however, records show the event occurred about 12 million years ago at the most. Experts also believe that the large felines which live in the Americas at present are actually descendants of jaguars which lived in South America’s northern environs between 300,000 – 500,000 years ago. It is another parallel which can also be drawn between the puma’s own evolutionary history since its North American population was also replenished by those from South America.

So what other member of the Panthera genus is the present day panther closely related to? Again scientists differ in this regard and some consider the jaguar to be more closely related to the lion (Panthera leo), while others believe the leopard (Panthera pardus) to be its closest living relative.
As for the leopard, its evolutionary history begins 4.37 million years ago when it emerged from  Panthera.

Distribution and Habitat

black-panther-waiting

Panthers live in a wide variety of habitats including tropical forests, deserts, and marshes

©iStock.com/slowmotiongli

Panthers are animals that are natively found on three of the world’s continents, with their location depending on whether or not it is a black Leopard or a Black Jaguar. There are 30 different subspecies of Leopard found across both Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and with the once large natural range of the Jaguar stretching throughout Central and South America and even into parts of the USA, the Panther has become an incredibly adaptable animal that is found in a variety of different habitats. Although they are most commonly found in tropical and deciduous forests, the Panther can also be found inhabiting both marsh and swampland, along with grasslands and even more hostile areas such as deserts and mountains. Along with a number of the world’s largest felines, the Panther is becoming rarer in the wild primarily due to habitat loss in the form of deforestation.

Behavior and Lifestyle

Animals in Movies

Panthers are skilled climbers and frequently rest on branches or observe prey from them

©sergeyle le/Shutterstock.com

The Panther is an incredibly intelligent and agile animal that is very seldom seen by people in the wild as it is generally elusive. Its dark brown fur camouflages the Panther both into the surrounding forest and makes it almost invisible in the darkness of night. The Panther is a solitary animal that leads a nocturnal lifestyle, spending much of the daylight hours resting safely high in the trees. Like both the Leopard and the Jaguar, Panthers are incredible climbers and they not only rest in the trees but they are also able to keep a watchful eye out for prey without being spotted. The Panther is an incredibly powerful and fearless animal that is feared by many due to the fact that it is also very aggressive. The Panther is also rather territorial particularly in the case of males whose home ranges overlap those of a number of females.

You can check out incredible facts about panthers.

Reproduction and Life Cycles

Baby Panther

Panther cubs are cared for by their mother for 2 years

©Eric Isselee/Shutterstock.com

Although there are only two different species of Big Cat that are considered to be Panthers, Leopards and Jaguars are actually very closely related despite living in separate parts of the world. Black Leopards and Jaguars often occur in the same litter as spotted cubs with the female usually giving birth to between 2 and 4 cubs after a gestation period of around 3 months (it is a simple recessive gene that makes a cub black and one that is carried by both parents). Panther cubs are born blind and do not open their eyes until they are nearly two weeks old. They are incredibly vulnerable to predators, particularly when left by their mother who must hunt for their food. By the time they are a few months old Panther cubs begin to accompany her in search of prey and often won’t leave her until they are nearly 2 years old and have established a territory for themselves.

Diet and Prey

animals unique to North America:pronghorn

Panthers often hunt antelopes as well as other medium to large-sized carnivores

©BGSmith/Shutterstock.com

The Panther is a carnivorous animal and one of the most feared and powerful predators throughout its natural environment. Hunting under the cover of night, the Panther’s dark fur makes it almost impossible to spot meaning that it can move through the jungle completely unseen. Although the majority of their hunting is actually done on the ground, they are also known to hunt from trees meaning that they can ambush their prey from above. The exact diet of the Panther is dependent on where in the world it lives although medium to large sized herbivores comprise the bulk of the diet of many large Cats. Animals including Deer, Warthogs, Wild Boar, Tapir and Antelope are all hunted by Panthers, along with smaller species like Birds and Rabbits when larger prey is scarce.

Predators and Threats

Lion showing teeth

Lions may occasionally hunt panthers in Africa or Asia

©Nejron Photo/Shutterstock.com

The Jaguar is the largest feline in the Americas and so Panthers in the New World are the most dominant predators within their environments. Those found in Africa and Asia however are occasionally preyed upon by other large carnivores such as Lions and Hyenas, but the most common predator and biggest threat to all Panthers is people. Not only have these rare animals been hunted by them throughout much of their natural range but they have also been subjected to drastic habitat loss particularly in the form of deforestation for both growing Human settlements and to make way for agriculture. Population numbers of large Cats are declining all around the world and they are being pushed into smaller and smaller pockets of their native habitats, Panthers are becoming even rarer than they already were.

Interesting Facts and Features

Balkan Lynx close-up

©Panagiotis Komninelis/Shutterstock.com

Although technically only black Leopards and Jaguars are generally considered to be the only true Panthers by science, the term is also used to describe a number of other dark coated Cats by locals in their native habitats including Cougars, Tigers, Pumas, Lynxes and Bobcats. The Black Panther is seen to be one of the most intelligent and ferocious predators in America so the image of a Panther is widely used as a logo or as a mascot for sports teams. Some Panthers are actually able to swim, although not those that are Leopards, as Jaguars are known to have a real love of water. Not only do these individuals prefer flooded forests but they spend a remarkable amount of time swimming, playing and hunting in the cooling water.

Relationship with Humans

The world’s Big Cats have been hunted by people as both trophies and for their fur particularly over the past couple of centuries. This caused enormous declines in population numbers of both Leopards and Jaguars with them having actually completely disappeared from some areas of their historic range. Panthers have also been subjected to severe habitat degradation throughout much of Asia, Africa and America which means that these elusive predators are now even rarer. They are very rarely seen by people who are only really ever aware of a Panther’s presence by their tracks left on the ground and scratch marks on trees. They are in fact so sneaky that Panthers are often referred to as ‘the ghost of the forest’.

Conservation Status and Life Today

Although the Panther is not considered to be a species itself by science, both Leopards and Jaguars are becoming increasingly vulnerable throughout much of their natural range and are listed as Threatened species by the IUCN. However, due to the fact that two gene carrying individuals must mate to produce a Black Panther and the chances of this are decreasing with habitat loss, many wildlife experts consider these animals to be endangered all around the world.

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About the Author

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Panther FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are Panthers herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Panthers are Carnivores, meaning they eat other animals.

What Kingdom do Panthers belong to?

Panthers belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum do Panthers belong to?

Panthers belong to the phylum Chordata.

What class do Panthers belong to?

Panthers belong to the class Mammalia.

What family do Panthers belong to?

Panthers belong to the family Felidae.

What order do Panthers belong to?

Panthers belong to the order Carnivora.

What genus do Panthers belong to?

Panthers belong to the genus Panthera.

What type of covering do Panthers have?

Panthers are covered in Fur.

Where do Panthers live?

Panthers live in Asia, Africa, and America.

In what type of habitat do Panthers live?

Panthers live in forests, swamplands, and grasslands.

What are some predators of Panthers?

Predators of Panthers include humans, lions, and hyenas.

What is the average litter size for a Panther?

The average litter size for a Panther is 3.

What is an interesting fact about Panthers?

Panthers prefer to hunt at night rather than during the day!

What is the scientific name for the Panther?

The scientific name for the Panther is Panthera pardus, Panthera onca.

What is the lifespan of a Panther?

Panthers can live for 12 to 15 years.

What is a baby Panther called?

A baby Panther is called a cub.

How many species of Panther are there?

There are 31 species of Panther.

What is the biggest threat to the Panther?

The biggest threat to the Panther is habitat loss.

What is another name for the Panther?

The Panther is also called the black panther, black leopard, or black jaguar.

How many Panthers are left in the world?

The population size of the Panther is unknown.

How fast is a Panther?

A Panther can travel at speeds of up to 71 miles per hour.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals
  7. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals
  8. Panther Information, Available here: http://www.blackpantheranimal.com/black-panther-animal.php
  9. Panther Facts, Available here: http://www.facts-about.org.uk/animals-panthers.htm
  10. About Panthers, Available here: http://www.animalport.com/animal-information/black-panther-animal-information.html

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