A black panther is the melanistic colour variant of the leopard (Panthera pardus) and the jaguar (Panthera onca). Black panthers of both species have excess black pigments, but their typical rosettes are also present. ... Melanism is caused by a recessive allele in the leopard, and by a dominant allele in the jaguar.

Are panthers jaguars with melanism?

Despite being a popular term, a black panther is not a separate species of big cat, rather, it is a non-official name often given to big cats that have this dark coloring. Both jaguars and leopards can exhibit melanism which has led to the term “black panther” being used to describe both species of big cat over time.

Are all panthers melanistic?

The melanistic color of the Panthera species only happens about 5 percent of the time. This means that only 5 percent of Panthera species have darker pigmentation and, to the average viewer, appear to be a “black panther.”