Black Panther

Safari Ltd - So-called “black panthers” are actually a melanistic color variant of the leopard. It is caused by an over-abundance of the pigment melanin, cause the animal’s fur to be dark. It also occurs in the jaguar, which is also sometimes referred to as a “black panther”, though it is less common. Though they appear all black from a distance, these “big cats” still have their familiar spotted pattern when viewed up close.

History: Melanism occurs in an estimated 11% of leopards, and an estimated 6% of jaguars. Due to their rarity and exotic nature, black panthers feature heavily in everything from political movements to pop culture. A popular Marvel superhero features the name, and one of the main characters in Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” stories is Bagheera, the black panther.

Scientific Name: Panthera pardus

Characteristics: This accurate and detailed black panther toy is on the prowl, with its eyes focused and its paw stepping forward in mid-stalk. What’s it hunting? Anything you want!

Size: The black panther toy figure is about 5 inches long and 2 inches high.