Leopard (The black panther)

Leopard (The black panther) / Panthera pardus

Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and parts of China. Leopards with the black color mutation are more commonly found in the dense, dark rainforests of Southeast Asia (such as the Malay Peninsula) and India, as it provides a distinct camouflage advantage.

The "Black Panther" is not actually a separate cat species in its own right. It is simply a leopard (Panthera pardus) or a jaguar (Panthera onca) that has acquired black fur as a result of a genetic mutation called "melanism" (an overproduction of dark pigment). Black panthers encountered in Asia and Africa are black leopards, while those in the Americas are black jaguars.

Although their coats appear completely solid black or very dark brown from a distance, when looked at closely or when sunlight hits them, the characteristic spots (rosette patterns) typical of leopards can be faintly seen underneath the fur like a ghost pattern. They are solitary, highly stealthy, and athletic hunters. Their dark fur provides them with perfect invisibility and a supreme advantage in the dim light of the forests or when hunting at night. They are very skilled at climbing trees and often carry their prey up into the branches to protect it from other predators.