What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I say ‘Black Panther’? I am sure you would have thought about T’Challa, King of Wakanda, a fictional African nation featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is known for his superhumanly acute senses and healing power, enhanced agility, reflexes, speed, stamina, and strength. Clad in the Panther Habit, the uniquely crafted Vibranium-weave suit, the protector of Wakanda is completely bulletproof and near-indestructible. Yet, the character doesn’t have much resemblance to the animal known by the same name. A much closer resemblance to reality would be Bagheera, the Indian black panther from the Rudyard Kipling’s classic, ‘The Jungle Book’ published nearly a century ahead of the Marvel Comic.
Do you know anything about this animal - the black panther? I’m sure you’d agree with me when I say that we all know that the black panther is a member of the ‘Cat Family’ and a close relative of the big wild cats like Tiger, Lion, etc. So, it would come as a big surprise that contrary to what we believe, the black panther isn’t a single species at all!! Instead, a black panther or simply panther is the black colour variant of any member of the genus Panthera (and hence the name ‘panther’). A panther is therefore usually either a black Leopard (Panthera pardus) in Asia and Africa or a black Jaguar (Panthera onca) in Central and South America.
Scientific Name: Panthera pardus [Leopard] (Melanistic)
Type: Mammals
Average life span: 12 to 17 years
Size: 0.9-1.9 m (head+body) 60-110 cm (tail)
Weight: 35 to 90 kg
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Diet: Carnivore
Mode of reproduction: Sexual
Habitat: Open savannah, forests, jungles and mountainous areas of India, Africa, China, Korea and Siberia. Black Leopard © Adobe Stock
Scientific Name: Panthera onca [Jaguar] (Melanistic)
Type: Mammals
Average life span: 12 to 17 years
Size: 1.1-1.9 m (head+body) 45-75 cm {tail)
Weight: 36 to 160 kg
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened
Diet: Carnivore
Mode of reproduction: Sexual
Habitat: Forests, swamps, dry woodland and grasslands of Central and South America.
Black Jaguar © Geanina Bechea.
The condition responsible for the black colouration is known as ‘melanism’, and is the increased development of the dark-coloured pigment melanin in the skin or hair. Research on Evolution has shown that the darker individuals in a species are often better camouflaged, and therefore more likely to survive and reproduce. This is particularly true in regions of dense forest with very little light penetrating the canopy and reaching the ground. This explains the sighting of these majestic beasts only in forested areas, swamps and grasslands of Asia, Africa and the Americas. It is a smart, stealth attacker that hunts at night, with its dark coat helping it hide and stalk its prey very easily. They generally hunt on the ground but have been known to ambush prey from trees as well. No wonder that the panther is often called ‘the ghost of the forest’.
When we think of panther, we imagine a big and black wild cat. This is accurate unless you look very closely! When observed closely, we notice that they have the same markings as their non-melanistic peers, with the pattern partially masked but still visible through the darkness of the coat.
One of the more sombre facts is that these animals are scarce. Genetics is partly responsible for this. The gene responsible for melanism is dominant in jaguars and recessive in leopards. This means that panther cubs are not always born to panther parents, and panthers don’t always give birth to another panther. Despite their meagre numbers, panthers are very solitary animals - they live, hunt and travel alone. The only exception to this rule is the mating season. Also, after they have mated, the pair will rarely stay together for more than a few days.
Adding to the effect of genetics, in recent times, these magnificent creatures and their habitats are at great risk. Industrial deforestation is significantly reducing the amount of territory available for these big cats to live on. Furthermore, the hunting of panthers for their fur, or other trophies, has caused a vast decline in their numbers.
Note to the readers: The opposite of melanism is albinism which is an even rarer mutation in animals. The extremely rare "white panther" are albino leopards, jaguars or cougars.
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Reposted from "The Monthly Nature Review" (Nature Club) - Abhivyaha Monthly Edition, November 2020, IISER Kolkata Campus Radio
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