I know here we go again, but I will honestly two you I was truly surprised to see my first Arkansas black panter in Antioch off of Hwy 31 and Sandy Ford rd tonight. Amazing animal. Turned around to get a picture but it was gone.
Black panther sighting
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thomasw_lrd
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The only thing I can say to this....there has never been a black panther in the history of man kind. The black color in a panther / mountain lion / cougar / etc. Has never been documented in the wild or captivity. Could you have seen a mountain lion...unlikely but ill say it is possible. A black mountain lion.....nope...you sure didnt. Unless you saw a black jaguar that traveled all.the way from south america. Prove me wrong if you can. Ive searched all over and came up with nothing.
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Just curious ….
Last year after noon, I drove East of Magnolia, on Hwy 82, turning South onto Col Hwy 25. As I completed the turn and looked South, I saw a full grown Mountain Lion crossing (Hwy 25) about 70-80 yards south ( going L-R) . It was stopped with one front foot raised and glanced my way then walked off the road. Jumping the ditch into the pines.. It was a dark brown color in the shadows and the tail was about 3 foot long. It was twice the size of the 45 Pound Bobcat I killed north of Bussey, Ark. a few years ago.
Were you dove hunting close to this spot?
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Actually, I was dove hunting not too far from there, but I saw the Mt. Lion early that morning while driving to camp on Hwy. 9 near Princeton
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Interesting reading, here and in this:
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-sightings/mountain-lions/mountain-lion-facts
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-sightings/mountain-lions/mountain-lion-facts
If I'm not mistaken the term panther is often used as slang or nickname when referring to cougars and when used correctly a panther and a jaguar are the same animal. So a person really isn't out of context when using the term "black panther" because a real panther can be black but most of the time people use it when referring to the cougar which is not black and is not really a panther.
So yes there have been many Black Panthers within the history of man kind just not any documented black cougars which are mistakenly called panthers.
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when someone says they saw a black panther remember ...
Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter and catamount are all different names for the same animal (Puma concolor).
“Black panthers” are not native to North America, but they do exist as melanistic (black color) phases of the leopard (Panthera pardus) found in Africa and Asia and the jaguar (Panthera onca) of Mexico and Central and South America. Throughout its range, no melanistic (black) mountain lion has ever been documented by science.
Mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, painter and catamount are all different names for the same animal (Puma concolor).
“Black panthers” are not native to North America, but they do exist as melanistic (black color) phases of the leopard (Panthera pardus) found in Africa and Asia and the jaguar (Panthera onca) of Mexico and Central and South America. Throughout its range, no melanistic (black) mountain lion has ever been documented by science.
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So by your theory.....these people are seeing. Jaguars...from south america...in arkansas. I realize there have been black panthers I.e. jaguars. But we are talking about in north america. So dont take it out of context in an attempt to prove someone wrong
....back to the bloodtrail
The jaguar (/ˈdʒæɡwɑr/ or UK /ˈdʒæɡjuː.ər/; Panthera onca) is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southwestern United States and Mexico across much of Central America and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Apart from a known and possibly breeding population in Arizona (southeast of Tucson), the cat has largely been extirpated from the United States since the early 20th century. Traditional range to the Canada border in Montana on a line diagonal to Florida. Native American tales talk of spotted cats, many of these tales are from tribes located in the far not of the United States of America. Remnants of Pantera onca have been found in Native American burial mound through the mound builder region
Color morphism
A melanistic jaguar is a color morph which occurs at about 6% frequency in populations.
Color morphism occurs in the species. A near-black melanistic form occurs regularly. Jaguars with melanism appear entirely black, although their spots are still visible on close examination.
The black morph is less common than the spotted form but, at about six percent of the population,[37] it is several orders of magnitude above the rate of mutation. Hence, it is being supported by selection. Some evidence indicates the melanism allele is dominant.[38] The black form may be an example of heterozygote advantage; breeding in captivity is not yet conclusive on this.
Melanistic jaguars are informally known as black panthers, but (as with all forms of polymorphism) they do not form a separate species.
Extremely rare albino individuals, sometimes called white panthers, also occur among jaguars, as with the other big cats.[33] As usual with albinos in the wild, selection keeps the frequency close to the rate of mutation.
Ecology
Distribution and habitat
The jaguar has been an American cat since crossing the Bering Land Bridge during the Pleistocene epoch; the immediate ancestor of modern animals is Panthera onca augusta, which was larger than the contemporary cat.[23] Its present range extends from Mexico, through Central America and into South America, including much of Amazonian Brazil.[61] The countries included in this range are Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica (particularly on the Osa Peninsula), Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, the United States and Venezuela. The jaguar is now extinct in El Salvador and Uruguay.[2] It occurs in the 400 km² Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, the 5,300 km² Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, the approximately 15,000 km2 Manú National Park in Peru, the approximately 26,000 km2 Xingu National Park in Brazil, and numerous other reserves throughout its range.
The jaguar can range across a variety of forested and open habitat, but is strongly associated with the presence of water.
The inclusion of the United States in the list is based on occasional sightings in the southwest, particularly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. In the early 20th century, the jaguar's range extended as far north as the Grand Canyon, and as far west as Southern California.[56] The jaguar is a protected species in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, which has stopped the shooting of the animal for its pelt. In 1996 and from 2004 on, wildlife officials in Arizona photographed and documented jaguars in the southern part of the state. Between 2004 and 2007, two or three jaguars have been reported by researchers around Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. One of them, called 'Macho B', had been previously photographed in 1996 in the area.[62] For any permanent population in the USA to thrive, protection from killing, an adequate prey base, and connectivity with Mexican populations are essential.[63] In February 2009, a 53.5 kg (118 lb)Jaguar was caught, radio-collared and released in an area southwest of Tucson, Arizona; this is farther north than had previously been expected and represents a sign there may be a permanent breeding population of jaguars within southern Arizona. The animal was later confirmed to be indeed the same male individual ('Macho B') that was photographed in 2004.[64] On 2 March 2009, Macho B was recaptured and euthanized after he was found to be suffering from kidney failure; the animal was thought to be 16 years old, older than any known wild jaguar.[65]
Completion of the United States–Mexico barrier as currently proposed will reduce the viability of any population currently residing in the United States, by reducing gene flow with Mexican populations, and prevent any further northward expansion for the species.
Jaguar in the United States
The only extant cat native to North America that roars,[79] the jaguar was recorded as an animal of the Americas by Thomas Jefferson in 1799.[80] There are multiple zoological reports of jaguar in California, two as far north as Monterey in 1814 (Langsdorff) and 1826 (Beechey).[81] The coastal Diegueño (Kumeyaay people) of San Diego and Cahuilla Indians of Palm Springs had words for jaguar and the cats persisted there until about 1860.[82] The only recorded description of an active jaguar den with breeding adults and kittens in the U.S. was in the Tehachapi Mountains of California prior to 1860.[81] In 1843, Rufus Sage, an explorer and experienced observer recorded jaguar present on the headwaters of the North Platte River 30–50 miles north of Long's Peak in Colorado. Cabot's 1544 map has a drawing of jaguar ranging over the Pennsylvania and Ohio valleys. Historically, the jaguar was recorded in far eastern Texas, and the northern parts of Arizona and New Mexico. However, since the 1940s, the jaguar has been limited to the southern parts of these states. Although less reliable than zoological records, native American artefacts with possible jaguar motifs range from the Pacific Northwest to Pennsylvania and Florida.
Ok people I did the research for some of this a long time ago. Here is the rest of the story, yes I think there are black panthers and spotted panthers, how often you you see bobcats in the woods?????? and they are everywhere!! Few see them in the woods while hunting, few see them while driving at night. How many had seen cougar in the woods?
Color morphism
A melanistic jaguar is a color morph which occurs at about 6% frequency in populations.
Color morphism occurs in the species. A near-black melanistic form occurs regularly. Jaguars with melanism appear entirely black, although their spots are still visible on close examination.
The black morph is less common than the spotted form but, at about six percent of the population,[37] it is several orders of magnitude above the rate of mutation. Hence, it is being supported by selection. Some evidence indicates the melanism allele is dominant.[38] The black form may be an example of heterozygote advantage; breeding in captivity is not yet conclusive on this.
Melanistic jaguars are informally known as black panthers, but (as with all forms of polymorphism) they do not form a separate species.
Extremely rare albino individuals, sometimes called white panthers, also occur among jaguars, as with the other big cats.[33] As usual with albinos in the wild, selection keeps the frequency close to the rate of mutation.
Ecology
Distribution and habitat
The jaguar has been an American cat since crossing the Bering Land Bridge during the Pleistocene epoch; the immediate ancestor of modern animals is Panthera onca augusta, which was larger than the contemporary cat.[23] Its present range extends from Mexico, through Central America and into South America, including much of Amazonian Brazil.[61] The countries included in this range are Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica (particularly on the Osa Peninsula), Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, the United States and Venezuela. The jaguar is now extinct in El Salvador and Uruguay.[2] It occurs in the 400 km² Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, the 5,300 km² Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, the approximately 15,000 km2 Manú National Park in Peru, the approximately 26,000 km2 Xingu National Park in Brazil, and numerous other reserves throughout its range.
The jaguar can range across a variety of forested and open habitat, but is strongly associated with the presence of water.
The inclusion of the United States in the list is based on occasional sightings in the southwest, particularly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. In the early 20th century, the jaguar's range extended as far north as the Grand Canyon, and as far west as Southern California.[56] The jaguar is a protected species in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, which has stopped the shooting of the animal for its pelt. In 1996 and from 2004 on, wildlife officials in Arizona photographed and documented jaguars in the southern part of the state. Between 2004 and 2007, two or three jaguars have been reported by researchers around Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. One of them, called 'Macho B', had been previously photographed in 1996 in the area.[62] For any permanent population in the USA to thrive, protection from killing, an adequate prey base, and connectivity with Mexican populations are essential.[63] In February 2009, a 53.5 kg (118 lb)Jaguar was caught, radio-collared and released in an area southwest of Tucson, Arizona; this is farther north than had previously been expected and represents a sign there may be a permanent breeding population of jaguars within southern Arizona. The animal was later confirmed to be indeed the same male individual ('Macho B') that was photographed in 2004.[64] On 2 March 2009, Macho B was recaptured and euthanized after he was found to be suffering from kidney failure; the animal was thought to be 16 years old, older than any known wild jaguar.[65]
Completion of the United States–Mexico barrier as currently proposed will reduce the viability of any population currently residing in the United States, by reducing gene flow with Mexican populations, and prevent any further northward expansion for the species.
Jaguar in the United States
The only extant cat native to North America that roars,[79] the jaguar was recorded as an animal of the Americas by Thomas Jefferson in 1799.[80] There are multiple zoological reports of jaguar in California, two as far north as Monterey in 1814 (Langsdorff) and 1826 (Beechey).[81] The coastal Diegueño (Kumeyaay people) of San Diego and Cahuilla Indians of Palm Springs had words for jaguar and the cats persisted there until about 1860.[82] The only recorded description of an active jaguar den with breeding adults and kittens in the U.S. was in the Tehachapi Mountains of California prior to 1860.[81] In 1843, Rufus Sage, an explorer and experienced observer recorded jaguar present on the headwaters of the North Platte River 30–50 miles north of Long's Peak in Colorado. Cabot's 1544 map has a drawing of jaguar ranging over the Pennsylvania and Ohio valleys. Historically, the jaguar was recorded in far eastern Texas, and the northern parts of Arizona and New Mexico. However, since the 1940s, the jaguar has been limited to the southern parts of these states. Although less reliable than zoological records, native American artefacts with possible jaguar motifs range from the Pacific Northwest to Pennsylvania and Florida.
Ok people I did the research for some of this a long time ago. Here is the rest of the story, yes I think there are black panthers and spotted panthers, how often you you see bobcats in the woods?????? and they are everywhere!! Few see them in the woods while hunting, few see them while driving at night. How many had seen cougar in the woods?
I didn't provide a theory, I only cleared up a misconception. You said there has never been a black panther ever known to mankind when in deed there have been many.
I stay pretty skeptical about panther sightings myself but they have been documented in southern US so I could see how some could and possibly would migrate north just like the armadillos did.
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Wait since we can't kill mountain lions since they don't exist. Looks like Im going to kill the first jaguar I come across. That can't be illegal.
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I grew up in west Pulaski county. When I was a kid, every spring and fall, there would be an animal of some sort come through that had a hair raising scream, not unlike a terrified woman. My dad said it was a panther. I saw a cat, while horseback riding with a friend, that was the spitting image of cougars I've seen on tv. Sorry I don't have any pictures.:wink:
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