Idk Pumas look pretty different. Jaguars have the sturdiest frame. But in general they are all cats. There are the "big cats" which include the Genus Panthera, which includes Lions, Tigers, (Snow) Leopards and Jaguars. They basically can all roar and since only Jaguars and Leopards occur in black, a Black Panther can be referring to either. Then there are the "small cats" which the Puma/Cougar is the biggest one. Evolutionary, big and small cats diverged a few million years ago.
Wikipedia claims that Panther is sometimes also used for Puma/Cougar/Mountain Lion, but i've never heard it (but i am no american). Technically a Panther could be any Tiger/Lion/Leopard/Jaguar, but usually it refers to Black Panther, which can only be a Jaguar or Leopard. They are also nigh impossible to tell apart by their looks if they are black (for an amateur).
'Panther' isn't a species, it's a colloquial term for both black jaguars and black leopards. So yeah this is a panther... but panthers aren't really a thing.
This, with the small caveat that you can use "panther" as a colloquial term for all big cats in genus Panthera. In which case a black panther can be any melanistic big cat that is entirely black. (Most big cat species aren't though. E.g., melanistic tigers merely have wider stripes, while lions have no melanistic morph at all).
Before someone nitpicks my nitpicking: melanistic jaguars and leopards aren't really 100% black either. You can still see a pattern of rosettes and dots in bright daylight. The pattern is black while the rest of the fur is a very dark brown.
PS: The colloquial forms of the zoological nomenclature all more or less follow this pattern. E.g., family Canidae = canids, genus Canis = canines. Same for Pantherinae = pantherines and Panthera = panthers. Or Hominidae = hominids and Homo = humans (in this case it's translated to English).
"Panther" on its own is just another word for mountain lions/pumas/cougars (all the same animal with a dozen or two names lol). "Black panther" is a colloquial name for either melanistic (black) leopards or jaguars.
Cougars do not come in black, to our knowledge; afaik there's never been a melanistic one found. "Panther" is used for the black leopard & jaguar probably because of the panthera genus, which the cougar isn't even a part of. Further info: leopards are African/Asian; cougars &
Growing up at the bottom of the Ozark Mountains, I've definitely heard stories about panthers (melanistic cougars) killing livestock and scaring farmers. I've also heard stories of accidentally coming across them on hiking trails. I definitely want to die because I was not strong enough to resist petting the big kitty cat.
I feel like there's a difference between, "I saw a black cougar" and "There was a giant blood thirsty beast stalking me and my dog on the trail". Surely someone has some game cam footage of one. Only just recently did Game and Fish officially recognize the presence of cougars in the lower Ozarks. For years, people were told they didn't travel that far South. They're so illusive that sometimes all you have to go on are "ghost stories"
"Surely someone has some game cam footage of one." You'd think!!
But no I'm specifically referring to big cat sightings, not attacks or the like. I think it's telling that everywhere without big cats still has big cat stories, and a lot of them turn out to be big housecats. Like police called for mountain lion that is orange cat level stuff, and without anyone to verify, tall tales grow taller.
digifuzzy
Pretty kitty cat
Rips4w
Jack Blaguar
Justinprking
My stomach growled at the exact moment I scrolled to the jaguar and it made it feel more real.
Lisa2027
Wow
obnoxiouslaughter02
Who's throwing their old Christmas trees in the panther enclosure?
GoodGuyGonzo
SJBSavageInk
Why so many big cat posts today with no sound 😭
itsthevoiceman
Jaqdakloun
I want to cuddle with it
adamlstf9
I bet that belly is so heckin soft….
ausernamewhat
Guenhwyvar!
theSpinnerBoy
Bagheera!
TungstenOrbital
Kitty!
HowManyDicksWouldaDickbuttButtIfaDickbuttCouldButtDicks
Pussy.
tocfanke4
Absolute Unit
Faloopsinarb
morninggloryshade777
Magnificent!!!!
Toodamagedtocare
Magnificent
kimiDriver
Are these panthers?
allenvasher3000
The episode of survivoran wear 1 of these is stalking is terrifying
ccccaaaa
My cat wishes he was that cool.
NLOVNI
Did he get booped at the end 😻😻😻
Californiajackson
Somebody did.
Feralkyn
Pretty sure he was opening his mouth to eat whatever was filming, maybe food near the camera for the shot
Atlas1990
WHY FRIEND SHAPED IF NOT FRIEND!? 😭
duktayp
pspspspspspsps
wherearemytesticles
Spspsp
DwayneTheCrackJohnson
Missing an arm: "totally worth it, 5/7 would pet again, fluffy"
ReallyOG
I agree. I love black pussy too.
Yusunoha
if not friend why friend shaped
alcamar
https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1OHNxMnFidXBheDc0MnZ0ZWJuZ3lvdHltYTB2eXNpMmp0eWx6ZXN1biZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/YTA7xSbXQkWJO/200w.webp
teknojo
Same thoughts
dreyfusslugado
I came here to post this. Well done!
sometimesarobot
Oh that's a biiiig kitty look at that chunkster (or muscle, idk) I wanna pet it
Rhodabike
Definitely muscle! They hunt a type of crocodilian called a caiman and have the bite force to pierce right through the scales.
LaffertyDanie1
Jaguars are real thicc bois
SecurityBadger
So what is the difference between a leopard, a jaguar, and a puma? They all seem to be different colors on the same frame.
Sternfeuer
Idk Pumas look pretty different. Jaguars have the sturdiest frame. But in general they are all cats. There are the "big cats" which include the Genus Panthera, which includes Lions, Tigers, (Snow) Leopards and Jaguars. They basically can all roar and since only Jaguars and Leopards occur in black, a Black Panther can be referring to either. Then there are the "small cats" which the Puma/Cougar is the biggest one. Evolutionary, big and small cats diverged a few million years ago.
SecurityBadger
Panther! I could not come up with that word and wrote puma, instead.
Sternfeuer
Wikipedia claims that Panther is sometimes also used for Puma/Cougar/Mountain Lion, but i've never heard it (but i am no american). Technically a Panther could be any Tiger/Lion/Leopard/Jaguar, but usually it refers to Black Panther, which can only be a Jaguar or Leopard. They are also nigh impossible to tell apart by their looks if they are black (for an amateur).
FeloniousMonk13
My favorite is the old XJR-12 coupes. maintenance is an absolute bastard on them though.
Californiajackson
Swooping along the highway, as fast as the tow truck will go.
MechKelly
I always loved the XJ220 after its brief appearance in Gone In 60 Seconds. Could never afford to drive one though.
FeloniousMonk13
YES that mid engine supercar they made .. thing was sexy af too
WhyDontYouMakeMe
If your first car is a Jag, your second car had better be a tow truck
gry425rjcp350
I like the new pink one😁Sue me
red1r
I've always had a thing for the E-Type.
ReallyOG
I always wanted an XK8. Until I drove one. Looks and sounds damn good. Other than that…
NotSomoneElse68
Being able to afford fixing it is part of the flex.
redtails2649
Not a panther, but a black jaguar? What's the difference?
berserk
Black Panthers were Americans of African descent who were active in the 60's and 70's. For reference, see Forrest Gump.
TheRicM
Skevoid
'Panther' isn't a species, it's a colloquial term for both black jaguars and black leopards. So yeah this is a panther... but panthers aren't really a thing.
MyOtherPetIsACat
https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1aDd4cXVhNmF6a2M2YmtpbjA0cW90aW45NWU3MWtlb3RhcHcyeTh6ayZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/5xtDarmwsuR9sDRObyU/200w.webp
FiftyShadesOfCauliflower
This, with the small caveat that you can use "panther" as a colloquial term for all big cats in genus Panthera. In which case a black panther can be any melanistic big cat that is entirely black. (Most big cat species aren't though. E.g., melanistic tigers merely have wider stripes, while lions have no melanistic morph at all).
FiftyShadesOfCauliflower
FiftyShadesOfCauliflower
PS: The colloquial forms of the zoological nomenclature all more or less follow this pattern. E.g., family Canidae = canids, genus Canis = canines. Same for Pantherinae = pantherines and Panthera = panthers. Or Hominidae = hominids and Homo = humans (in this case it's translated to English).
Feralkyn
"Panther" on its own is just another word for mountain lions/pumas/cougars (all the same animal with a dozen or two names lol). "Black panther" is a colloquial name for either melanistic (black) leopards or jaguars.
Cougars do not come in black, to our knowledge; afaik there's never been a melanistic one found. "Panther" is used for the black leopard & jaguar probably because of the panthera genus, which the cougar isn't even a part of. Further info: leopards are African/Asian; cougars &
Feralkyn
jaguars are found in the Americas.
firlefranz
Oh, really? Cougars don’t come in Black, huh?
giraffytaffy
Growing up at the bottom of the Ozark Mountains, I've definitely heard stories about panthers (melanistic cougars) killing livestock and scaring farmers. I've also heard stories of accidentally coming across them on hiking trails. I definitely want to die because I was not strong enough to resist petting the big kitty cat.
Feralkyn
Oh there's stories about big cryptid cats everywhere, lol. I wouldn't put much real stock in them without proof though.
giraffytaffy
I feel like there's a difference between, "I saw a black cougar" and "There was a giant blood thirsty beast stalking me and my dog on the trail".
Surely someone has some game cam footage of one.
Only just recently did Game and Fish officially recognize the presence of cougars in the lower Ozarks. For years, people were told they didn't travel that far South. They're so illusive that sometimes all you have to go on are "ghost stories"
Feralkyn
"Surely someone has some game cam footage of one." You'd think!!
But no I'm specifically referring to big cat sightings, not attacks or the like. I think it's telling that everywhere without big cats still has big cat stories, and a lot of them turn out to be big housecats. Like police called for mountain lion that is orange cat level stuff, and without anyone to verify, tall tales grow taller.