2006-09-03 06:16:56 · 12 answers · asked by Peter K 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the four 'big cats' of the genus Panthera. It is also the fourth largest big cat in the world with the jaguar, lion and tiger being larger. They range in size from one to just over two metres (6.5 ft) long, and generally weigh between 30 and 70 kg (65–155 lb). Some males may grow over 90 kg (200 lb). Females are typically around two-thirds the size of males. For its size, the leopard is the most powerful feline in the world next to the jaguar.
Most leopards are light tan or fawn with black rosettes, but their coat color is highly variable. There are smaller rosettes and spots on the head.
Originally, it was thought that a leopard was a hybrid between a lion and a panther, and the leopard's common name derives from this belief; leo is the Greek and Latin word for lion (Greek leon, λέων) and pard is an old term meaning panther. In fact, a "panther" can be any of several species of large felid. In North America, panther means puma and in South America a panther is a jaguar. Elsewhere in the world a panther is a leopard. Early naturalists distinguished between leopards and panthers not by color (a common misconception), but by the length of the tail - panthers having longer tails than leopards.
A black panther is a melanistic leopard (or melanistic jaguar). These have mutations that cause them to produce more black pigment (eumelanin) than orange-tan pigment (pheomelanin). This results in a chiefly black coat, though the spots of a black panther can still be discerned in certain light as the deposition of pigment is different in the pattern than in the background. There are also white panthers.
2006-09-03 06:19:26 · answer #1 · answered by missourim43 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nothing much. What is thought of as a black panther is really just a black leopard. If you look closely enough, you can even see the spots under the black coloring...
http://www.tigers-animal-actors.com/about/panthers/panthers.html
2006-09-03 13:18:43 · answer #2 · answered by george 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
leopard has spots and a panther is black but then again they both can be black the only thing i can think of is that the panther is in fact bigger than a leopard.
2006-09-03 13:18:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A leopard has spots and a panther is solid in color.
2006-09-03 13:18:59 · answer #4 · answered by redhead 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A leopard has a spotted coat, a panther's is solid black.
2006-09-03 13:19:35 · answer #5 · answered by sluggo1947 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah, good question. i'd like to know that too. b/c leopards can be black just like panthers...so how do you tell the difference? is one bigger than the other, is that the difference?
2006-09-03 13:18:19 · answer #6 · answered by mighty_power7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
leopard has spots, a panther is one color
2006-09-03 13:21:06 · answer #7 · answered by rugbrat86 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
panther is black and leopard has spots!
2006-09-03 13:18:23 · answer #8 · answered by lolitakali 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
leopards have spots and are a different type of cat than a panther.
they come from different areas of the world
leopards are rarer I believe
2006-09-03 13:18:51 · answer #9 · answered by knowitall 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most likely something to do with habitat,mateing,hunting,or configuration of spot,dots,and colors on there skin/fur
2006-09-03 13:19:54 · answer #10 · answered by ~CS~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋