Classification: Black Panthers are native to Asia, Africa and America. They are a big part of the Big Cat family. Panthers are joined in this family with Jaguars and leopards. Most black panthers appear dark brown to black. Cat whiskers and yellow eyes have been a common trait since their ancestors. As stated before, all cats are a part of the Felidae (feline) family.
Diet: The panther is a carnivorous animal. This means that it eats almost all other animals. The exact diet is very dependent on their habitat. Some animals that the panther tends to hunt are deer, wild boars and antelopes. They also hunt smaller animals such as birds and rabbits.
Interesting Facts: Those panthers found in Africa and Asia are preyed on by other larger carnivores like Lions and Hyenas. Many people consider panthers as their own species but by science, they are not a species by themselves. Adult panthers are usually 7-8 feet in length and weighs between 100-250 pounds. Panthers are the strongest tree climbers in the cat world. Just nine months after birth, young panthers can catch medium-sized prey. Panthers can leap up to 20 feet. In the wild, panthers can live up to 12 years and in captivity up to 20.
Selective pressures: Melanism is a development of the dark-colored pigment melanin in the skin. Also known as the medical term for black jaundice. Jaundice is a "medical condition with yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, arising from excess of the pigment bilirubin and typically caused by obstruction of the bile duct, by liver disease, or by excessive breakdown of red blood cells."
Adaptations: Panthers need many different adaptations. They need stealth, good hearing, good eyesight, amazing tree climbing skills, sensitive whiskers and they need to be nocturnal predators.