An almost-black Florida panther has been photographed in the Everglades. It might provide the long-awaited explanation for hundreds of “big black cat” sightings throughout the Southeastern USA in recent years. It is known that Eastern cougar population is rebounding, but until now there was no evidence that melanistic cougars existed at all, so black cat sightings were either ignored or suspected to be other species. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=577410745665040&set=a.139211826151603.30380.127332010672918&type=1&theater
-
Quick Question about Giant Pandas in China
tomeslice, , General Mammal Watching, 0
Hi all, I’m going to China with my mom and my sister in April. Now, we’re only going for...
-
Various Trip Reports – India, Nepal and Yellowstone – Royle Safaris
roylesafaris, , General Mammal Watching, mammal watching, primate watching, safari holiday, Tiger Safari, wildlife tour, Wildlife watching, 0
Tiger Safari to Bandhavgarh Trip Report – Royle Safaris A trip report from a tiger safari of Bandhavgarh National...
-
Sierra Nevada update
vdinets, , General Mammal Watching, 3
This is generally of local interest, but since so many people are apparently planning to visit California this summer,...
-
Mammal watching at the autopsy table: pleistocene puppy reveals much
heavenlyjane, , General Mammal Watching, 1
Hoping this isn’t considered too much of a stretch in terms of member interest. I found it fascinating. http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/news/n0613-ancient-puppys-brain-is-well-preservedas-dog-bares-its-teeth-after-12400-years/...
-
New Book: Squirrels of the World
Jon Hall, , General Mammal Watching, 3
Exciting news for anyone who has spent hours in an African, Asian or Latin jungle trying to get a...
-
Western Palearctic Canids
Jon Hall, , Europe and the Palearctic, General Mammal Watching, 0
A nice article on Wolves, Jackals and all points in between (thanks to Richard Webb for sharing). Jon
-
Last-minute Israel
mikehoit, , General Mammal Watching, 0
Hi all I’m thinking about making a trip to Israel in two or three weeks time and was hoping...
-
And The Winners Are …. The 2018 N.U.T.T.E.R Awards
Jon Hall, , General Mammal Watching, 6
Move over Pullitzer and Nobel Prizes. Oscars and Olympic Golds be damned. Here are the real over achievers for...
Subscribe to mammalwatching.com
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Manuel Ruedi on Mammal Watching Forum
- Vladimir Dinets on Indian Mongoose and Mouse identification help please
- Vladimir Dinets on Indian Mongoose and Mouse identification help please
- Jon Hall on Indian Mongoose and Mouse identification help please
- Avijit Sarkhel on Indian Mongoose and Mouse identification help please
From what I understand about these pictures, this is a normal colored Florida Panther that appears dark because of the lighting.
Interesting pics. Since 1994 I have been a following cougar / puma / panther / mountain lion sightings and conservation issues in the eastern USA. Reports of black panthers have never been confirmed in North America but there have been a few recorded in Central & South America. So a darker than usual Florida panther is possile.
There’s nothing in the pictures to indicate that the cat could look darker than it was. The grass it’s on looks perfectly normal, the light is not into the camera. I’ve heard it said many times that all sightings of big black cats in the Southeast are a result of light conditions, but nobody has ever proved that such an effect is possible. I’ve seen more than a hundred big cats in the wild, and not a single one of them ever seemed black, except for the few that really were.