|
Panthera is a genus of the family Felidae (the cats), which contains four well-known living species: the tiger, lion, leopard, and jaguar. The genus comprises about half of the big cats. One meaning of the word panther is to designate cats of this family. Only these four cat species have the anatomical changes enabling them to roar - the incomplete ossification of the hyoid bone.
Species and subspecies There have been many subspecies of leopard and lion suggested; however, most of these are questionable. Recently it has been proposed that all sub-saharan leopards and all sub-saharan lions belong to the same subspecies, as they do not have sufficient genetic distinction between them. Some prehistoric lion subspecies have been described from historical evidence and fossils. They may have been separate species. (Extinct species and subspecies are indicated with the symbol †) The animal known as a black panther is merely a mutant form of leopard and jaguar where the gene that controls the spots has mutated so the creature appears all black. The Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia, is no longer included within Panthera. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
| |