Panthers, sometimes known as black panthers, are beautiful large cats that are occasionally found in Asia or the Americas.
The tawny-colored, black-spotted wild cats of South America are known as jaguars. Who would prevail in a fight between them and panthers, given that they can occasionally coexist in the same habitat?
Panther Vs Jaguar are members of the same species and can be found in the same area. Melanism is the condition that causes the black coloring. Fur darkens as a result of the body producing too much melanin. Black leopards do exist, and leopards can share the same genetic mutation. Although they are native to Asia, they are also known as panthers.
Black Panther Species Explained
Many people consider black panthers to be a separate species of large cat. On the other hand, black panthers are either jaguars in the Americas or leopards in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Two of the genes that determine fur color can be genetically mutated in individuals of both species. One of these genes becomes recessive due to this mutation, while the other becomes dominant.
Melanin, a pigment present in the bodies of all mammals, including humans, is produced in excess as a result. The pigment that gives skin, fur (or hair), and eyes their color is called melanin. The darker the skin, hair, and eyes, the more melanin the body produces.
Melanism, which essentially implies an unnatural darkening of body tissues, is a disorder caused by a genetic mutation in black jaguars and leopards.
Although it is a very uncommon disorder, the mutation can be found in up to 10% of individuals in both species.
Melanism has been found to be closely linked to specific environmental elements by researchers.
Because the geographic range predicts the likelihood of a black panther being born in both species, the distribution of black leopards and jaguars is therefore not random.
The mutation is closely linked to damp forest regions in leopards. For this reason, the majority of black leopards are found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia rather than Africa.
The mutation primarily affects jaguars that live in forests, however it is unrelated to a state of dampness. People may mistakenly think that panthers are a distinct species due to this particular range.
In contrast to black fur, a tawny coat with dark patches is easily noticeable in canopied and shady settings, suggesting that this mutation may be an environmental adaption.
What Makes Them Panthers?
There are two different species of black panthers. However, because of their similar colors and genus, they were given a common name rather than black leopard or black jaguar.
In fact, the genus Panthera includes all roaring big cats, such as tigers, jaguars, leopards, lions, and snow leopards.
It should be noted that if a species possesses the genetic mutation that causes its fur to turn black, any of the five species listed above can be considered panthers.
With the exception of panther vs jaguar, this mutation is extremely uncommon in all species.
Black tigers have been spotted relatively infrequently, however the ones that were seen had thicker stripes rather than being entirely black.
Asiatic lions also have black manes rather than tawny ones. However, no pure black lion has ever been seen in the wild.
Since albinism is usually caused by a different genetic mutation, white tigers and white lions are the outcome.
Sea also: Do Jaguars Eat Crocodiles?(How can They Operate)
12 Distinctions Between Jaguar and Panther (Indochinese Leopard):
We learned that panthers may be black members of the jaguar or leopard species. We regarded the melanistic leopards as panthers (referred to as Indochinese panthers in this article) for comparative purposes.
Here are some information and a comparison of the strengths of jaguars and Indochinese panthers, often known as black leopards:
| Characteristic | Panther (Indochinese leopard) | Jaguar |
|---|---|---|
| Classification (species) | Panthera pardus delacouri | Panthera onca |
| Geographic range | Southeast Asia and southern China | South, Central, and North America |
| Habitat | Forests | Tropical forests, scrub forests, wetlands, swamps, coastal forests |
| Body size | 2.98 to 5.4 feet | 5 to 6 feet |
| Weight | 55 to 110 pounds | 150 to 300 pounds |
| Teeth size | 2 inches | 2 inches |
| Bite force | 1,030 PSI | 1,500 PSI |
| Speed | 36 mph | 50 mph |
| Strike force | 3,960 lb.-ft./s | 15,000 lb.-ft./s |
| Behavior | Solitary; territorial | Solitary; territorial |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Near threatened |
Scientific journals, research papers, magazines, almanacs, and other official sources referenced throughout the article were the origins of all the data of panther vs jaguar in the table.
The peak speed multiplied by the top weight was used to determine the strike forces for each species. We regarded the black Indochinese panther vs jaguar (Panthera pardus delacouri) for comparison’s sake. Black panthers and jaguars can both be black.
1. Classification
Despite the fact they belong to separate species, Indochinese black panther vs jaguar are both members of the Panthera genus.
Although they are also found in Central and North America, jaguars are considered the big cats of South America. Panthera onca is their scientific name.
Leopards with an aberrant melanin synthesis due to a genetic mutation are known as black panthers. However, in Africa, black leopards are very rare.
Although the genes may possibly be present in other subspecies, the mutation primarily affects Indochinese leopards (Panthera pardus delacouri).
2. Geographic Range
Indochinese black panthers, often known as melanistic leopards, are typically found in lush woods that are uncommon in drier Africa.
For this reason, Southeast Asian tropical forests are home to the great majority of leopard panthers. The geographical range includes Nepal and China.
In other parts of Asia, particularly Java, dark leopards may not actually be black panthers but rather Javan leopards (Panthera pardus melas), which are dark brown or black in color and naturally contain more melanin than any other leopard species.
Although they are referred to as the “big cats of South America,” jaguars can be found in Central and North America, even as far north as Arizona.
3. Habitat
Jaguars live a wide range of environments, including marshes, wetlands, coastal regions, and tropical and scrub forests.
These large cats are accustomed to living in damp conditions and do not shun water. They are not only good swimmers, but they also reside near the coast.
Although all leopards have the potential to become panthers, scientists have shown that the likelihood of a panther arising depends on the habitat. Because of this, the habitat of melanistic leopards is limited to Southeast Asian jungles.
4. Body Size
Despite being closely related to tigers and lions, panther vs jaguar are both smaller than these animals.
Typically, jaguars reach a maximum length of five or six feet. They are usually between 27 and 31 inches tall at the shoulders, and their long tails add an additional 27.5 to 36 inches to their length.
In addition to being smaller than jaguars, leopard panthers are shorter than African leopards, to which they are not as closely related as previously thought.
Their shoulder height is comparable to that of jaguars, and their length ranges from 2.98 to 5.4 feet. Their tails can compensate for as much as half of their body size.
5. Weight
Weight is one of the main distinctions between black panther vs jaguar.
Mammals that weigh between 150 and 300 pounds, jaguars are small but incredibly strong. Indochinese leopards weigh from 55 and 110 pounds, which is almost three times lighter.
6. Teeth Size
The size of their teeth is one way that Indochinese leopards and jaguars are comparable. The fangs of both species can grow up to two inches in length.
Given that the two species are members of the same family, it should go without saying that their skull morphologies are comparable.
7. Bite Force
The biting force is another compelling argument in favor of jaguars, despite the similarities in cranium and tooth size.
They can bite with a force of up to 1,500 PSI, which is the strongest bite force of any large cat in relation to their size, even if they may be smaller than lions and tigers.
With a bite force of about 1,030 PSI, which is just marginally less than tigers’, leopards can still defeat lions and cheetahs despite having a weaker bite than jaguars.
8. Speed
In the wild, speed is an essential tool that helps mammals either escape from predators or capture prey. Additionally, jaguars are far faster than the other species.
Jaguars are actually capable of sprinting up to fifty kilometers per hour. Even while they can only maintain this speed for brief periods of time, they still have an advantage if necessary.
Leopards are by no means slow, but their maximum speed is just about 30 miles per hour for longer distances and 36 miles per hour for brief bursts.
9. Strike Force
The impact force can be computed by multiplying the speed by body mass, even if there aren’t many studies on the strike force of carnivorous mammals—after all, these species depend on bite force to kill prey.
Similar to the strike force, the impact force varies with each strike and can be either stronger or weaker depending on several conditions.
We took into account each species’ maximum weight and speed for comparison. It is not surprising that jaguars are much stronger given the disparity in weight and speed.
They have an impact force of up to 15,000 lb.-ft./s, which is about five times that of an Indochinese leopard, which has an impact force of 3,960 lb.-ft./s.
10. Behavior
Behavior is one area where the two animals are comparable. Indochinese panther vs jaguar are both solitary animals.
As nocturnal carnivores, panthers can have home ranges as large as 13 square miles. Male territories can overlap with those of many females, but they can not overlap with those of other males.
Leopards, like jaguars, are at ease in the water and prefer to sleep in the canopy of the forest, where they can patrol the area for predators and trespassers.
Jaguars are primarily crepuscular, but they behave similarly. They don’t always perch on tree branches, and their areas are a little bit bigger—up to 14.6 square miles. Generally speaking, jaguars like to sleep in places with deep shade, including beneath boulders or dense foliage.
Being protective of their home ranges from other large cats or possible dangers, leopards and jaguars share this trait.
11. Diet
Indochinese panther vs jaguar are both large, carnivorous felines. Although they also prey on turtles, caimans, porcupines, capybaras, and even snakes, jaguars mostly hunt large prey such as tapirs, deer, and peccaries.
Despite their diminutive stature, jaguars are the top predators in their range and have no known enemies save humans.
Although they favor mid-sized ungulates and smaller mammals, Indochinese panthers are ambush predators, exactly like jaguars. Along from eating insects, reptiles, and small primates, they also prey on carrion and carcasses wherever they can.
12. Conservation Status
Panthers may eventually go extinct because both panther vs jaguar are in danger of going extinct.
The IUCN has classified jaguars as near threatened, and their numbers are declining. Approximately 173,000 jaguars remain in the world, according to WWF.
One of the most endangered species is the Indochinese leopard. Though not all of them are black panthers, there are currently less than 800 adults remaining in the wild.
Who Would Win A Fight?
When an Indochinese panther and a jaguar fought, the former would always come out on top.
Compared to Indochinese leopards, jaguars are roughly five times larger and more powerful. They are far faster, and their bite is more powerful.
Taking the jaguar by surprise is the only way a panther would have a chance. Otherwise, the battle would always be lost.