Топик на английском языке про пантеру.

The Panther

The word “panther” doesn’t name a single species—it’s a common name that usually refers to big cats showing melanism (an excess of dark pigment). In Africa and Asia, a “black panther” is typically a melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus). In the Americas, it most often means a melanistic jaguar (Panthera onca). In parts of the United States, people also say “panther” when they mean the cougar or mountain lion (Puma concolor), especially the endangered Florida panther, which is a pale, non-melanistic cougar subspecies living in south Florida.

Melanistic leopards and jaguars aren’t truly jet black; in good light you can still see their rosette patterns beneath the dark coat. This coloration likely offers advantages in dense forests and at night, where darker fur helps with camouflage. Leopards range across sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, adapting to habitats from savannas to rainforests. Jaguars live from Mexico through the Amazon basin, preferring tropical forests and wetlands. Cougars occupy a huge range in the Americas, from Canadian mountains to Patagonian grasslands.

Panthers are solitary predators. Leopards are famous for dragging prey into trees to avoid scavengers; jaguars have the strongest bite relative to body size among big cats and can pierce turtle shells or skulls, often killing with a powerful bite to the head. Cougars rely on stealth and pounce, targeting deer and other medium to large mammals. All three are apex or near-apex predators, shaping ecosystems by keeping herbivore populations in check.

Culturally, the panther symbolizes stealth, strength, and mystery. From ancient folklore to modern sports mascots, it represents grace under pressure. Conservation, however, is a very real issue. Habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching threaten leopards and jaguars in many regions, while the Florida panther survives only thanks to strict protection and habitat corridors. Protecting these animals means safeguarding large, connected wild landscapes—and the many other species that depend on them.