Mysterious wild cat - black jaguar: description, habitat. What is the difference between a leopard and a jaguar? Jaguar black panther

The black panther is the most beautiful, the most mysterious and the least studied animal. An innumerable number of legends, fairy tales and myths have been written about this wild cat. Until now, she is considered the goddess of the animal world, standing out for her graceful appearance and steel character. Many are surprised by the incredible abilities of this predator and consider it mythical.

It is important to note that the panther genus consists of several extinct and four living species:

• Tiger;
• Leopard;
• Jaguar;

Many people are still wondering: is the black panther a jaguar or a leopard? Let's try to figure it out.

Why black

There is an opinion that the black panther should have a pronounced black color, but this is not so. In nature there are other shades, since the name does not determine the color, but only a separate subspecies of the cat family. At its core, the predator is a leopard or jaguar with a black coat. The unique color of the coat is due to the habitat and lifestyle that the animal leads. It is known that the beast is found in the dark, dense jungle, goes hunting at night and practically does not show up during the day. In turn, mountain relatives wear white wool, and predators living in shrouds and steppes received a yellow speckled color.

It is important to note that the skin of the black panther is heterogeneous. Quite common individuals with light spots, brownish tint, etc. Moreover, such individuals are subject to crossing and are able to produce healthy offspring. If one of the parents has a yellow coat, and the second one has a black coat, then the cub will receive a yellow color, since this color is genetically stronger. To make the baby dark, it is necessary to take exclusively black animals for crossing.

Physiological features of the black panther

Panther is a strong wild cat, with a graceful appearance, athletic body, long tail and strong limbs. Average weight adult reaches 60 kilograms with a height of 70 centimeters. In this case, the length of the body reaches 1-2 meters. Outwardly, the predator looks mysterious and incredibly beautiful. Due to the well-developed organs of smell, the animal can catch prey even in pitch darkness. The Black Panther is the best hunter of its kind. It moves almost silently and smoothly, approaching the victim for several meters. Then wild cat makes a sharp jump and catches his future "lunch" by surprise.

Panthers have one unique physiological feature- the larynx, capable of inflating with the help of a flexible bone of the hyoid apparatus. Thereby specific phenomenon the animal can create mystical, chilling a roar that can be heard from a distance of several kilometers.

When attacking prey, a cat develops incredible speed- up to 60 kilometers per hour, while the height of the jump often reaches six meters. Based on the foregoing, it can be understood that the black panther is a fast and graceful predator that is able to catch any small prey. By the way, there were cases when an animal attacked a person.

Average lifespan of the panther genus: Range

1. Tiger - 20-26 years old;
2. Leo - 10-14 years old;
3. Leopard - 12-17 years old;
4. Jaguar - 12-15 years;

As for the life expectancy of the black panther, it reaches 12 years in wild nature, and 20 years in captivity, such as a zoo or nursery. But the content, and even more so the training of such a graceful predator is a very difficult and life-threatening task. Cat has an aggressive nature, high intelligence and the absence of any fear of man or other animals. There have been cases when the beast attacked the lion, so any contact with it can end badly.

Most often, the black panther is found in tropical jungle Africa, Asia and South America. The predator rarely comes into contact with humans, so it tries to stay away from settlements, human habitation and other signs of human activity. Naturally, there are cases when an animal attacks village livestock and causes great damage to agriculture.

As mentioned above, the panther is a ferocious hunter. The most favorite delicacy of a cat is the meat of large and medium-sized ungulates. However, in its absence, this black jaguar makes do with bird eggs, monkeys, or fruits of fruit trees. It is known that a predator can go without food for 4-5 days. But if the cat is starving for a long time, it turns into the biggest one. danger to humans. Cases of attacks on people sleeping in the forest are quite common. In addition, situations are known when the beast attacked a cow and stole pigs. If the animal eats enough, it may not notice a humble lamb located at a distance of several meters.

In most cases, the panther attacks the victim at a watering hole, and she spends her meal on a tree, lying on her stomach. The cat sleeps during the day, also in the trees.

How do black panthers breed?

In leopards and jaguars, pregnancy lasts from 90 to 100 days, after which the female gives birth to incredibly beautiful kittens. In most cases, she gives birth to two cats, but there are times when 4-5 small predators are born. This is found in warm regions. It is known that the black panther is the most caring mother . Before giving birth, she chooses a cozy, dark place where it is difficult for a person or other animals to get. Most often, such a place is a hole under the roots of trees, a large hollow or a hard-to-reach cave.

From the first days of life until the age of one year, kittens are under the strict control of their mother. She practically does not leave them unattended and does not trust anyone else. Even the father cannot approach his children due to the aggressiveness of the female. If she had to sacrifice her life for a child, she would do it without any hesitation. It is known that the first ten days of the life of the cubs, the panther does not leave its lair, does not eat or drink. She has enough of what the male brings. Often there are cases of complete starvation of a cat. As the kittens mature, she returns to normal life, but still provides them with maximum care.

Behavioral features

Leopards and jaguars lead a terrestrial lifestyle, excellently overcome high-altitude obstacles and are able to attack prey in trees. Predator chooses to hunt night time, although it often attacks animals during the day. Like other representatives of the panthers, the leopard can be active throughout the day.

Panther is considered a lone hunter. She rarely hunts in pairs, except during the mating season, when the female and male spend a small part of their lives together. As a result, the cat always relies only on its own own forces. The predator does not like to take risks in vain and waste energy. Before attacking prey, she needs to soberly assess the situation. If you need to run away, she will do it without much thought. However, the nature of the panther is by no means timid. If in front of her difficult task or danger, she quickly turns into a ferocious hunter, able to overcome any obstacles in her path.

Panther can be attributed to territorial predators. Each individual manages its own individual area, the size of which is determined by the abundance of food. If there is a lot of prey, then the area is smaller, and vice versa, if there is little food, the cat needs more territory. The sites of males may be intertwined with those of one or more females. If a male appears on it, then the owner immediately enters the battle and begins a tough fight for his place.

Females are less aggressive, but can also attack other females that have entered their territory.

Mine plot panther tags odorous urine or visual marks on tree trunks. In addition to graceful appearance and beautiful color, panthers have high intelligence and intelligence. It is believed that the panther is one of the most intelligent animals, with the exception of higher primates. Even a professional hunter cannot always determine the location of a wild cat.

And if she turns into a cannibal, then she is quickly credited mystical characteristics and considered a manifestation evil spirits. Perhaps that is why panthers still cause mixed feelings in all people.

Jaguar (Panthera Onca) is a carnivorous mammal of the cat family. The jaguar is third (fourth if the liger is included) in terms of cat size after the tiger and lion in the wild. It is also the largest and most powerful cat in the Western Hemisphere.

The jaguar is a very muscular cat. Although it looks like a leopard, it differs more powerful structure- relatively short, massive paws and a powerful chest. It differs from a leopard in that the jaguar has sockets on its skin. black spot in the center. The characteristics of the habitats and behavior of this cat are very similar to those of a tiger.

Jaguars live both in the grasslands and in the rainforests of South and Central America, and in the desert, in the southern part of North America (Arizona). Extinct species lived in Asia, Europe and Africa, where they developed 2 million years ago. Analysis mitochondrial DNA shows, however, that the jaguar appeared 280-510 thousand years ago. Later than fossil finds suggest.

The jaguar has the most powerful jaws big cats.

He is an excellent swimmer and chooses to live in areas rich in water (swamps). He likes to settle in periodically flooded forests and shrubs along rivers.

Jaguars are rarely seen in open spaces. They thrive in shady conditions. rainforest. The characteristic coloration of the skin gives these animals perfect camouflage between patches of light and shadow, making hunting easier.

In jaguars, as a rule, the hair on the stomach, the inner surface of the paws, the throat, and the chin is white. The back and sides of the body are partially covered with black, round or oblong spots.

In all subspecies of the jaguar, despite considerable differences in coloration, one can always find a black spot in the corner of the mouth and dark spots with white or yellow spot behind the ear.

Although rare, dark or completely black jaguars are also seen and are often referred to as "Black Panthers". Similar patterns are found in leopards. Dark color in cats (jaguar and leopard) due to large quantity pigment (melanin).

The jaguar hunts mostly on the ground (although it can climb trees), mostly at night. It uses the power of its jaw to attack and usually kills in one hit. At short distances, the jaguar can run very fast, but it gets tired very quickly, so chasing the victim is not his forte. These animals, like most cats, use the element of surprise.

Listen to the voice of the jaguar

Usually the victims of these cats are large mammals (tapirs, capybaras, peccaries). When they are hungry, they can eat and small mammals, birds, turtles and caimans, as well as fish. The jaguar can easily fish with its front paw, as bears do. After the hunt, the jaguar hides the body of the victim in a safe place. The rest is buried in the ground. Hungry or if threatened, they may attack people.

Jaguars were worshiped by Native Americans, including the ancient Maya and Aztecs.

Do you know that:

The jaguar has the strongest jaws of any feline.
Most years, jaguars live alone, like tigers.
During mating season(August and September) males fight for females.
At birth, jaguar kittens weigh 0.7-0.9 kg.
Sometimes the jaguar is called the "black panther".
Jaguars are very difficult to train.
In zoos, these cats often live two or even three times as long as they do in the wild.
Jaguars reproduce every two years.

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish similar animals from each other. But for those who decide to put an end to misunderstandings and gaps in knowledge, our article will certainly come in handy. In it, we look at the main differences between leopards and jaguars, as well as some other large felines that also have spots.

Who are panthers?

There are not so many differences between the jaguar and the leopard, since they are close relatives. Both species belong to the genus Panthera. In addition to them, the genus also includes tigers and lions, which obviously cannot be confused with anyone. The word "panther" has another meaning. Often this is the name of all large cats of a dark color. It should be remembered that in this case we are not talking about the form - this is a characteristic of the color.

An increased amount of melanin causes the growth and darkening of the spots, as a result of which the animal receives a thick dark color, sometimes almost black. The same thing happens with jaguars and leopards.

Sizes and shapes

The main difference between a leopard and a jaguar lies in the size and structure of the body. The following photo will help visualize this.

The jaguar is larger and more massive; against the background of a light-footed leopard, it may even seem like a fat man. And he also has a not very long tail, unlike a leopard one.

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In the wild, it will not be possible to put these animals side by side and compare, since they live on different continents. Therefore, we will consider other differences. But first, we note that the jaguar is the only representative of the genus of panthers living in the South and North America. Leopards inhabit Africa and Asia.

The structure of the head

The jaguar is larger and its head is more massive. If you look in profile, you can see a sloping, slightly convex nose. Some say it resembles a pit bull's nose. Unlike the jaguar, the leopard has a more elegant head. He has a typical feline profile with a concave nose. The part of the muzzle from which the whiskers grow is also different: in the jaguar it is pear-shaped, lowered to the mouth, and in the cheetah it is knocked down, diamond-shaped.

Attention to spots

The American beast is not only larger, but also much brighter than the African and Asian counterparts. The color of his skin is red, not light yellow. One more characteristic difference leopard from jaguar - spots. In the jaguar, they are large, in the form of black rosettes with spots inside, while in the leopard they are smaller, with a colored center, but without spots.

Behavioral features

In terms of lifestyle, there are not so many differences. Leopards and jaguars are excellent dart frogs and hunters. They attack the victim from an ambush, kill almost instantly. These species do not feed on carrion. Wounded animals can attack people, but in general cannibalism is not typical for them (although history knows several fierce predators that kept entire settlements in fear).

But there are still differences. Leopards are not very fond of water, and their American relatives swim great. It is also believed that jaguars are more aggressive.

Other large spotted cats

It happens that confusion arises with other brothers in the family. Most often, questions arise when it comes to the cheetah, although it is not even a representative of the panther genus.

He has a smaller, lean body on strong high legs and a small head. The tail of a cheetah is long and thin. Black stripes run from the eyes to the corners of the mouth. The spots are complete. Unlike the leopard and jaguar, the cheetah only hunts during the day and never ambush. This animal is the best sprinter among the predators of the planet, but it does not chase prey more than 400 meters.

Spots can also be seen on the skin of a lynx, but these are more likely specks. The lynx is also significantly inferior in size even to the leopard, and it can be easily identified by the shape of its head with high triangular ears crowned with tassels.

The snow leopard, or irbis, is a rather large animal, similar to a fat light leopard. Irbis lives in the mountains, so its color is gray-white, without reddishness. The coat of this animal is thick and very long, and a small fluffy tail more like a jaguar.

There are small representatives of the family (servals, ocelots), which are more like large domestic cats, and not like huge jaguars. In addition to spots, these animals do not have any similar signs with representatives of the panther genus.

Jaguar refers to predatory mammal of the cat family, a representative of the genus Panthera (four in total), living on the American continent. In the wild, the size of the animal is in third place, second only to the tiger and lion. This cat is the most powerful and largest in the Western Hemisphere.

Habitats and characteristics of jaguars

These huge cats live in the grasslands and forests of tropical South and Central America, but can also settle in the desert. They can also be seen in the state of Arizona, which is located in the southern part of the North American continent.

Some scientists are sure that jaguars lived on the planet 2 million years ago, their relatives spread throughout Asia, Europe, Africa. However, the DNA analysis taken showed that the first jaguar appeared 285-515 thousand years ago, later than fossil finds suggest.

The characteristics of the "black panther" is as follows:

• The body reaches a length of 120-195 cm.
• Tail up to a meter.
• Height - 76 cm.
• Body weight has an average of 56 to 96 kg.
• Pregnancy lasts 91−111 days.
• The female becomes sexually mature by two or three years, the male - by three or four years.
• There are usually 2-3 kittens in a litter, sometimes 1 and 4 kittens happen. Babies do not leave their mother until 6 weeks. Then they are with her until they determine the hunting territory for themselves.
• The lifespan of an animal vivo 12 years, in captivity - up to 28.​

What do jaguars and black panthers look like?

What is this representative of the panthers? How is it different from others? Jaguar, a photo of the animal can be seen on our website, looks like a leopard, but more muscular and powerful. Its paws are relatively short but massive, and its chest is powerful.

You can distinguish it from another feline by the spots on the skin, which are located in the center of the outlet. This animal is similar to the tiger in habitat preference and behavior. big cat has the strongest jaws among his entire family.

The jaguar is known as an excellent swimmer. For life, he chooses places where there is a reservoir nearby. He prefers to settle along rivers, in periodically flooded forests and shrubs. It is almost impossible to see it in open spaces, as they prefer the shady conditions of the rainforest.

The coloring of the animal's skin makes it invisible during the hunt. This is the perfect camouflage, hard to recognize between patches of light and shadow. Characteristic spots are located on it from the sides and on the back, the inner surfaces of the paws, belly, throat and chin, as a rule, have a white color.

A distinctive feature of the jaguar of different subspecies, despite the different coloration, is the presence black spot in the corner of the mouth and dark spots with white or yellow patches behind the ear from the back.

These animals were worshiped by Native Americans, including the ancient Mayans and Aztecs. The Indians are sure that the jaguar is endowed with the ability of hypnosis, with the help of which it deprives the victim of the opportunity to move. And the ancient Maya considered the animal a symbol of the power of the gods.

In nature, dark or all black jaguars, they are often referred to as the "Black Panther". Similar individuals can be observed in leopards. The dark color of these felines is due to a large amount of melanin (pigment).

Despite the fact that the jaguar can climb trees well, it eats the caught prey on the ground, and does not hide it in the crown of trees from other predators, like a leopard. Prefers to hunt at night.

When attacking, the jaguar tries to kill with one precise blow of powerful jaws, since it cannot pursue the victim for a long time, as it quickly runs out of breath, although at short distances it can show its sprinting abilities. So it's better for him now hit the victim on the spot, for this uses the tactics of a surprise attack from an ambush.

Each animal has its own area for hunting up to 80 square meters. km. It is preferred to hunt large mammals such as tapir, caliber, baker. If unsuccessful, they can switch to smaller animals, as well as birds, reptiles, fish, which, like a bear, catches with its front paw.

After the hunt, the jaguar drags the killed prey to a safe place, hiding the rest in the ground or just quit. Never touch the fall. These big cats are capable of attacking humans as well, but only rarely if they are threatened or hungry. They watch people out of curiosity.

Features of the "black panthers"

In most of their habitat, these animals are almost completely exterminated. It is all the fault of poaching, shooting of animals by cattle breeders and the transfer of these big cats from their natural habitats to other lands.

The jaguar is protected in most countries and listed in the international Red Book. However, limited jaguar hunting is allowed in Mexico, Brazil and some other countries.

And in Bolivia they are even shot for trophies. All this is sad, because this beautiful predatory cat is one of the most beautiful animals that inhabit our planet, and a person is obliged to preserve its population in the wild.

None of the wild cats has such a vast range as the leopard. This predator has successfully “mastered” a vast territory, including all of Africa (without the Sahara) and almost all South Asia. At the same time, he feels great in the forest and in the mountains, he equally tolerates both heat and cold. In the north, the leopard reached Transcaucasia and Primorye. True, it is no longer found in the Caucasus, but on Far Eastern leopard seen just recently. On July 24, 2016, the rarest animal boldly ran across the highway in the Khasansky district of Primorye, and a little later was still hit by a car.

In addition, on the other side of the globe lives the closest relative of the leopard - the jaguar. They are so similar that an inexperienced eye will not immediately determine who is in front of him - a resident of the Old World or the New? However, it is quite possible to distinguish them. talking plain language, the leopard is more graceful and “slenderer” than the more stocky and densely built “American”.

Leopard.

The legs of the jaguar are shorter and more powerful, the rosette spots are larger and more decorated, and the head is more massive and large (the Brazilians call it “kangu” - that is, “big head”).

Jaguar.

The beautiful skin of these predators was a desirable object of fashionistas of the 1930s and 70s (Jacqueline Kennedy and Gina Lollobrigida loved to flaunt in “leopard” outfits). But even without this, people had enough reasons to kill leopards.

More dangerous than a tiger and a lion

The hunters unanimously claimed that the leopard more dangerous than a lion or a tiger, and it is much more difficult to track down and shoot him. The fact is that it is smaller and lighter than its “colleagues” (the body length of a leopard is 91-180 m, and its weight is from 30 to 90 kg). Consequently, it is more agile and invisible in the grass, shrubs or tree branches (spots on a yellowish background under these conditions are an excellent disguise).
They write that this predator can sneak up to an unsuspecting victim at a distance of up to 2 meters before making a lethal jump.

R. Kipling "How the leopard got his spots":
“- Become spotted like a giraffe.
- What for?
“Just think about how profitable it is. Or maybe you prefer zebra stripes? Both the zebra and the giraffe are very happy with their new patterns.
— Hm! the leopard said. “I don’t want to be like a zebra at all.
“Make up your mind quickly,” the Ethiopian insisted. “I wouldn't like to go hunting without you, but willy-nilly I will if you look like a sunflower against a dark fence.
“Well, I choose the spots,” said the leopard. Just don't make them too big. I don't want to be like a giraffe."

A. Brem "Animal Life":
“In appearance, the leopard is without a doubt the most perfect of all cats on the globe. From the whole family latest lion, of course, inspires us with respect for its greatness, and we willingly recognize in him the king of beasts; the tiger is the most terrible representative of the ferocious society of cats; the fur of the ocelot is, of course, more colorful and variegated than the furs of other pardels; but with regard to the harmony of the constitution, the beauty and pattern of the fur, regarding the grace and beauty in the movements, these cats, like all the others, are far inferior to the leopard.

The leopard is not only dexterous and cautious, but also silent. Of course, he can rumble deafly and resoundingly and even roar (during the mating period), but not on the hunt. They say that the leopard is silent, like a partisan, even when trapped or wounded.
It is interesting that such caution of the leopard and his unwillingness to engage in "open battle" allowed Aristotle to enroll this predator in the top of the most cowardly animals - along with the mouse, rabbit, hyena and donkey.
However, the inhabitants of Africa and Asia, who are familiar with the leopard firsthand, never shared the assessment of the ancient Greek philosopher. For them, the leopard is a respected animal, a symbol of military prowess and royal power (in Dahomey, the local kings called themselves “children of the leopard”).

A. Brem "Animal Life":
“With such ferocity and dexterity of the leopard, it is understandable why among the kaffirs the winner of a dangerous animal enjoys such honor. Dressed in a “karros” made of leopard skin, with a necklace of teeth of the beast around his neck and his tail on his belt, the brave man looks down on his comrades, on whose belt only modest monkey tails dangle sadly.

However, Aristotle's opinion did not take root in Europe either. Yes, the leopard could be a symbol of malice and ferocity, but by no means cowardice. It is with the leopard (leopard) that the terrible “Beast coming out of the sea” is compared in the Apocalypse (13:1-2). It is the leopard, the wolf and the lion that pursue the hero of the Divine Comedy Dante on the way to Hell. Yes and german tank"Leopard" just will not be called.

As I already wrote, the leopard is well able to adapt to different environment habitat, which helped him avoid that mass extermination to which the lions and tigers were subjected. However, the favorite patrimony of this predator is, of course, the forest.
The leopard excellently climbs and jumps on trees, which leads to the incredible horror of the monkeys. Often he hides the remains of his prey in the trees.

The same can be said about the jaguar. In the language of the Guarani Indians, the name "yaguara" has a very eloquent meaning: "a beast that kills with one jump." In a jump, this predator is really swift, but, like most cats, it quickly fizzles out at long distances (do the creators of the Jaguar sports car know about this?).

A. Milne "Winnie the Pooh and All-All-All":
“- And what do the Jagulars do? - asked Piglet, in the depths of his soul hoping that now they would not do this.
“They hide in the branches of trees and from there they rush at you when you stand under a tree,” said Pooh ...
“Then we’d better not go near that tree, Pooh, or else he’ll throw himself out and hurt himself.”
"They don't hurt themselves," said Pooh, "they're great at throwing."

Mine Reed "The Headless Horseman":
“Climbing a tree was useless: the jaguar climbs trees like a cat. Mustanger knew this.
... Purely instinctively, he rushed straight into the stream and stopped only when the water reached his waist.
If Maurice could reason, he would understand that it is useless, because the jaguar not only climbs trees like a cat, but also swims like an otter. He's just as dangerous in the water as he is on land."

Indeed, the jaguar great swimmer, which manages to successfully hunt even caimans. However, the favorite food of this predator is the South American peccary pigs (emphasis on the second syllable) and the world's largest rodents - capybaras, resembling guinea pig one and a half meters long.
In the New World, the jaguar is by far the largest and dangerous predator, which the newcomers Spaniards immediately nicknamed "el tigro". Of course, the jaguar was also revered by the Indians. Among the monuments of the Peruvian culture of Chavin, stone figures of gods in the form of half-human half-jaguars have been preserved.

On the left, a jaguar figurine from Monte Albán (200 BC); on the right is an image of an Aztec warrior in a jaguar skin.

True, in South American fairy tales, the jaguar often plays the same role as the wolf in Russian fairy tales - it appears in the form of a formidable, but simple-minded predator, which is led by the nose by a possum or monkey. You can also remember Kipling's fairy tale "Where did the armadillos come from", where the jaguar is "bred" by a hedgehog and a turtle. By the way, the advice of his jaguar mother - to scratch a turtle out of its shell - is not so fabulous - predators often use this technique in real life.

Previously, the habitat of jaguars was not limited to the South American jungle and reached such states as Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California (it is in Texas that the action of the novel "The Headless Horseman" takes place). However, since the 1940s, this predator has not been seen in the United States, although it is still found in Mexico in some places.

What does a panther smell like?

"I also love the black panther,
When she looks ahead
In some inanimate sphere,
Like a terrible sphinx in the blue desert.
(F. Garcia Lorca)

As soon as I became interested in the origin of the name "leopard", confusion quickly arose in my head. Perhaps more knowledgeable experts will correct me - I met too many conflicting hypotheses while researching this issue.

You do not need to have deep linguistic knowledge to see the word "leo" in the name of a leopard - i.e. "a lion". But how is the second part translated - "pard" - more precisely, "pardus"?
The English-language Wikipedia says that this ancient Greek word means "male panther" and is taken from the eastern - Indo-Iranian - languages. Then who is this "panther"?

Bagheera's panther Soviet m-f"Mowgli".

Russian-speaking readers will find it easy to answer this question. Many will immediately remember the unforgettable Bagheera from Mowgli, and the well-read will explain that the panther is not separate view, but simply a genetic variety of black leopards. Black individuals (in science they are called melanists) are also found in jaguars, but these have not yet been found in lions and tigers.

By the way, in Kipling's original, Bagheera is not a female, but a male. Disney took a lot of liberties in the film adaptation of The Jungle Book, but he has the correct gender of the panther.

The coloring pigment melanin is to blame for the excessively dark coloration - the same one that is responsible for the color of our hair, the color of the iris, etc. It is its enhanced formation under the action of UV rays that manifests itself on human skin in the form of a tan and freckles.

The first of the medieval Europeans who described the black leopard, so to speak, "from nature", was Marco Polo. This 13th-century traveler managed to get all the way to China. True, in his descriptions, Polo calls the panther a "lion."

“There are many different animals; they are unlike the animals of other countries. There are completely black lions here without any marks.

However, look at what Ovid writes in the Metamorphoses:

…God (meaning Bacchus - S.K.) meanwhile, having crowned his forehead with vines in clusters,
He himself shakes with a spear, vine entwined with foliage.
Tigers - around the deity: the ghosts of lynxes seem to be,
The wild ones immediately lay down with the spotted skin of a panther ...

The Roman god of wine - Dionysus - riding a leopard.

And here is what Mephistopheles says in Goethe's Faust, referring to a freckled blonde:

"My soul! With such whiteness
Six months to be spotted like a panther
It can ruin a woman's career."

Indeed, even on the black panther there are always stains. E. Gee in "Wild Animals of India" wrote that there are even special "nedopanthers" in which black spots are clearly visible on a light chocolate background. No wonder in English language the analogue of our proverb “Only the grave will fix the humpbacked one” sounds like “Can leopard change its spots?” ("Can a leopard change its spots?").

"The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah" (13:23):
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, and the leopard his spots? so can you
to do good, accustomed to doing evil?

Women in leopard print dresses.
On the left is a painting by C. E. Perugini. On the right is Italian actress Marie-Angella Melato.

R. Kipling "Mowgli":
“A black shadow lay in the middle of the circle. It was Bagheera, a black panther, black all over, like ink, but with marks that, like all panthers, are visible in the light, like a slight moiré pattern.

If, however, someone inattentively read the book, then in the Soviet cartoon "Mowgli" the competent creators clearly indicated Bagheera's species when they depicted her running with a spotted leopard during the mating season.
Cubs in such a family can be very different - both spotted and black. But the latter is less common because the black gene is recessive and is often suppressed by the spotting gene. To get one hundred percent black offspring, you need two black panthers, but "negresses" can also be born to spotted parents if their ancestors were black. Except color spotted leopards and panthers are no different.

Nevertheless, the spectacular image of the panther (a black cat with burning eyes) made the panther a real symbol of a formidable, beautiful, dexterous, treacherous (and sometimes treacherous) woman (the song “Agatha Christie” and the film about the werewolf girl “People” immediately come to mind. -cats" with Nastassja Kinski).

Nastassja Kinski with her "alter ego".

True, the Nazis managed to name a rather square (but still formidable) tank by this name. On the coat of arms African country Gabon two panthers hold a shield and personify (I quote) "the vigilance and courage of the head of the Gabonese state."

Under the name "Black Panthers" is widely known as a radical nationalist black group.

As you can see, in the West, an ordinary leopard can also be called a “panther”, and the epithet “black” - “black panther” will definitely be added to melanists.

However, all this is not clarified by the above statement from Wikipedia that "pardus" means "male panther". In this case, nonsense comes out - “leopardus” turns out to be a hybrid of “lion” and ... the same “leopard”!
However, there are more logical interpretations. For example, the assumption that the words "panther" and "pardus" are derived from the Sanskrit "pundarikas" (tiger), which, in turn, comes from pandarah - "light yellow". And in the article "tiger" from Dahl's dictionary, we can find the following phrase: "the scientific name of the beast is Pardus."
That is, the "leopard" in ancient times was perceived as a kind of cross between a lion and a tiger ...

With the third name of the leopard - "leopard" - things are not so confusing. It is believed that it comes from the word "prassum" from the Hitti language (the supposed ancestor of the Abkhaz and Adyghe languages). It took root in our country in the 16th century and meant, first of all, Caucasian leopards. Although it was also used in relation to other large and spotted ones - like a cheetah or an irbis (the latter will eventually be called a "snow leopard").

But back to the word "panther", the origin of which is also ambiguous. In ancient times, it was interpreted more simply, without delving into Sanskrit. Like, “pan” is in Greek “everything, universal”, and “theros” is “beast”. That is, "panther" is a kind of "all-beast" - a beast above all animals.

Isidore of Seville:
“The panther is called by this name either because she is a friend to all animals except the dragon, or because she likes the community of her kind, and what she receives she returns with equal sameness.”

Such a strange interpretation will become clear if we recall one ancient (and no less strange) idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthis animal. Even in the ancient world, it was believed that the panther (then called it “pard”) is able to exude a fragrant and enchanting aroma that no animal can resist. No wonder the ancient Greeks called the word "pardalis" not only leopards, but also getters - professional "priestesses of love", abundantly anointing themselves with incense.

Aristotle "History of Animals":
“They also say that the pard, knowing that its smell is pleasant to animals, hunts, hiding itself: it comes close and thus grabs even deer.”

If there was at least some pragmatic logic in this description, then in the Christian era it also disappeared. In the theological presentation, the predator already exudes fragrance just like that, without pursuing any insidious gain.

"Physiologist" (II-III centuries):
“In a dream, she exudes a fragrance, and all other animals gather around her at this smell, and rejoice at the aroma, and when they are overjoyed, they disperse in joy and contentment through the thickets and fields.”

The panther attracts all the animals, but frightens the dragon, which hides in a hole. Drawing from the "Bestiary" (XII century).

At first, this smell was compared with the Word of Christ, attracting the souls of people to faith. In a courtly culture, they began to compare the Beautiful Lady with a fragrant panther.

"Bestiary of love in rhymes", unknown poet 13th century:

I follow her like animals follow,
Related panther.
I followed her and I go
I accompany Mrs.
Beloved attracts, beckons,
Sweet breath intoxicates.
Painted in all colors,
Panther is more beautiful than all animals.
Charms with a beautiful appearance.
Waking up, cry out loud
Animal sweetens the ear,
And an unspeakably sweet spirit
The forest fills the thickets,
And there is no sweeter fragrance.
Animals love this scent.
Only snakes are afraid of him
Saved as if from a chase
From these heavenly incense.
But everyone, except for the snake, is glad
Breathe in the wonderful aroma
And so other animals
Always accompany the panther...

J. Boschius, “Decoration is created by spots.” 1702

But in the mystical novel by Gustav Meyrink "The Angel of the West Window", the insidious seductress is already associated with the panther.

"The naked princess with the most natural view emerged from her mother-of-pearl shell. Her wonderful, immaculately proportioned body of a light bronze hue, which retained its chaste elasticity, even next to the stone Isais looked like a real masterpiece. The dress thrown on the floor gave off a predatory scent, or so it seemed to me; this well-known to me, tickling the nerves smell of a panther in my already overexcited state acted simply deafening.

If in medieval Europe ideas about leopards were very abstract (after all, they were not found there), then at the time of Meyrink they already knew perfectly well how dangerous this predator was.

But cannibals in cat family I will dedicate.