- Panther: description, structure, characteristics. What does a panther look like?
In fact, the word “panther” hides not a separate biological species, but an entire genus of the cat family, which includes such formidable predators as the lion,
tiger, jaguar and leopard. As for the well-known black panther, it is usually a leopard or jaguar, which has a corresponding black color.
Description of panthers
Panther
Panther belongs to the genus of large predatory animals from the cat family.
This genus is represented by four living all known predators: tiger, leopard, lion and jaguar. The panther is none other than a representative of the leopard (read our article: the biggest cats in the world). Although there is still controversy over who exactly the panther belongs to, jaguars or leopards. Panthers are distinguished because of their color, because many of them have an even color, most often black. Interesting fact : due to its majestic appearance, the panther was used on the emblem of English kings. Nowadays it is present on the coat of arms of the African country of Gabon.
Video
And in conclusion, an interesting documentary video about a black panther/leopard.
Author: Pavel Chaika, editor-in-chief of Poznavaika magazine
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Black Panther Animal.
Appearance of panthers
Appearance of panthers
These wild animals have a muscular body, which reaches a length of 95-180 cm, a tail - 70-115 cm. The weight of panthers usually ranges from 40-55 kg, but some individuals can reach 100 kg. The tail accounts for up to half the length of the body, sometimes more; thanks to this assistant, they maintain excellent balance and feel comfortable even at high altitudes. Panthers are very graceful animals, but behind their external beauty and grace lies a real ruthless predator that can easily attack a person.
Wool
The fur of these animals is hard, it covers the entire body and most often has a black color, but if you look closely, you can see spots of dark shades of various kinds.
Panther
The panther moves on four powerful limbs, easily climbs trees and jumps well. At the ends of its paws there are sharp claws that can be completely hidden by retracting into the fingers. The height of the animal at the withers reaches 50-70 cm.
Head
Panther fangs
The head of the predator is large and has a somewhat elongated shape. At the top of the head there are small ears. The eyes are medium in size with round pupils. The panther has powerful jaws with a complete dental system. The canines are not large compared to other wild cats, but they are quite powerful and have a wide base. A predator can easily climb a tree while holding the body of its prey in its mouth.
It is impossible not to note the main feature of panthers - the structure of their larynx. They have a not completely ossified hyoid apparatus, in which there is a flexible ligament, thanks to which the larynx is able to swell and the panther can emit a kind of roar. In addition to this feature, the animal’s vocal cords also do not separate, but form a tubular structure. Thanks to this structure, the roar is very loud and deep.
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What do panthers eat?
Panther on the hunt
The panther is a carnivorous predator, so its diet can include any animal. The wild cat gives preference to artiodactyls, and the size of the prey does not matter: among them there are zebras, antelopes, buffalos, roe deer, etc. It can also attack livestock; cows, sheep, and goats can become victims.
Despite the fact that the panther hunts mainly on the ground, while resting in a tree it may also be interested in a monkey as a potential victim. This predator can go without food for 5-6 days , but in this case the feeling of hunger takes over the cat so much that it begins to pose a great danger to the person whom it is ready to attack without hesitation.
These predators usually look out for their prey and lie in wait, waiting for the right moment. When the game comes closer, the panther can overtake it in several jumps, and, if necessary, can rush to catch up, developing speeds of up to 60 km/h. It is difficult to escape from this predator or escape from its tenacious clutches.
Recommendations for choosing a kitten
Particular attention should be paid to the color of the coat - pure black, without any inclusions and bronze color of the eyes. Choose an active, playful baby with shiny fur, clear eyes and a soft tummy. Pay attention to the symmetry of the muzzle. Study the pedigree carefully.
It is better to purchase a kitten from a specialized nursery. The price, depending on the breed qualities, ranges from 10,000 rubles for a kitten with minor defects (slightly long tail or short legs, small ears or eyes) to 60,000 rubles for a show-class pet.
Character and lifestyle
This predator does not live in a pack, but wanders on its own. Prefers to hunt large animals. Its diet is dominated mainly by ungulate mammals: antelope, buffalo, zebra. Sometimes a wild cat is not averse to snacking on a monkey.
Panther
Why does a panther drag its prey up a tree?
A panther can attack an animal that is larger in size - few can compete with this predator in strength and agility . She can easily drag any caught prey up a tree and have her meal there. This manner of hiding its food is also connected with the fact that in this way the panther protects its prey from attacks by hyenas and lions that roam the earth. This is another distinctive feature of leopards, because only they drag their prey into trees.
Panther on a tree
Leopards, which include the panther, love to rest in trees, they even sleep there. They stretch out on the branches and casually hang their paws down. Panthers can jump onto trees up to 5.5 meters high ; no other predator can boast of such jumping ability.
It is curious that a wild cat kills only when it feels hungry; if the predator is full, then even if a small kid is in front of its nose, the panther will not touch it . But when a predator is hungry, it can even attack a person. Panthers often settle near human dwellings and can enter its territory without any problems. They like to hunt at night, so there are cases of attacking a person in a dream.
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Interesting fact : according to statistics, panthers cannot be called cannibals. Other predators, such as tigers or lions, are seen attacking humans much more often.
Unlike other representatives of this species, panthers are difficult to train and have a wayward character. They are very brave animals and do not have the slightest fear of humans. They prefer to live alone; occasionally they can walk in pairs, male + female.
This is a territorial predator that does not tolerate strangers in its area. They mark their territory with a specific smell and leave special claw marks on trees. If there is quite a lot of food in the selected territory, then the panther can somewhat narrow its territory, but if there is scarce living life in this area, on the contrary, it can mark and conquer a larger area.
Lifestyle
Panthers, like real representatives of the cat family, are true individualists, preferring to live alone, or in pairs of male + female. Occasionally they can gather in a pride, as lions do, creating a small family of panthers, but this does not happen often.
Panthers are territorial animals; each panther has its own specific territory, so to speak, hunting grounds, where it is not advisable for other panthers to enter.
Panthers are nocturnal, which is greatly facilitated by their black color, thanks to which night hunting is much more preferable for a panther than chasing game during the day.
How long do panthers live?
Panther
Like all representatives of this species of animals, panthers are not long-livers. Their age ranges from 10–12 years . Even under favorable conditions, they rarely live past 15 years.
Panthers remain active for the first 8 years, then there comes a period when they become inactive and no longer attack large animals. Predators can no longer cope with hardy and strong animals. They look for easy prey and do not disdain carrion in the last years of their lives.
Interesting fact : there are recorded cases of a panther living for twenty years.
General information
A panther is not a specific animal, but a whole genus of the cat family, which includes such well-known species as the jaguar, tiger, lion and leopard, as well as some that are already extinct. Sometimes the snow leopard (snow leopard) is also included in this category, but most often it is classified into its own genus.
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Reproduction and offspring
Panther Kittens
Panthers are solitary animals, but they form pairs to produce offspring. During the mating season, animals begin to hunt together and spend a lot of time next to each other.
Interesting fact : male panthers are much larger than females, almost twice as large.
- These wild cats reach maturity at 2.5-3 years of age. Being in a warm climate means that predators can breed all year round.
- They bear cubs for 3-3.5 months.
- The panther prepares for childbirth in advance, choosing a secluded place for this.
- A wild cat reserves food for itself for the first time after giving birth, because for the first 10 days after the kittens are born, it does not leave their side.
- Usually one or two kittens are born, but there are also cases of three or four small predators being born.
Panthers are caring parents, so mothers stay close to their cubs even after their eyes open. During the first 10 days of life, the mother does not leave her offspring; in practice, there are even cases of starvation of the female during this period.
Interesting fact : a caring panther mother is so kind to her offspring that she doesn’t even let the father get close to the kittens at first.
They teach their offspring all the intricacies of hunting and the basic rules of survival in the wild. When it comes time to include meat in the kittens' diet, their mother simply places her prey in front of them, without helping them tear the meat off the bone. Thus, from childhood, little panthers learn to control their claws and teeth.
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