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What Qualities Do Humans Share With Panthers?

The panther is a species of wild cat whose pelt can range from reddish brown to dark gray. Its distinctive characteristics include a crook at the tip of its tail, a pale stomach and dark markings at its tail tip, behind its ears and at the sides of its nose. It is known by several other names, such as mountain lion, cougar, puma and catamount. This stealth hunter, though averse to human contact, nevertheless shares a few common characteristics with the latter.

Warm-Blooded
- Like humans and other mammals, the panther is a warm-blooded or endothermic animal, meaning that its metabolism can adjust to regulate its body temperature. This characteristic enables it to survive in a variety of habitats, including cold mountain slopes, coastal swamps and even deserts. They have been found all over the American continents from the Rockies and the Andes to the Central American jungles and deserts. This large range is the reason this species is known by around 40 different names.
Muscular Hind Limbs
- Another characteristic shared by humans and panthers is the greater muscular development in their hind limbs compared with their forelimbs. In humans, these well-developed leg muscles are vital for bipedal locomotion. Panthers, on the other hand, in spite of walking on all fours, have longer hind legs designed for leaping. These powerful hind legs enable the panther to spring forward when attacking. In a single leap, a panther can cover as much as 23 feet - an important ability that comes into play when hunting its agile prey.
Mating and Child-Rearing Habits
- Like other cat species, panthers have no fixed breeding season. Like humans, they are receptive to mating and reproducing any time in the year, though most panther broods are born between March and July. Some female cougars are monogamous, though polygamy is not uncommon. A female cougar trains her cubs to hunt for as long as one-and-a-half years, after which they're ready to leave their mother. These cubs' hunting range often cover ranges similar to their mother's when they mature.
Round Pupils
- Domestic cats are known for their elliptical or slit pupils. However, the puma has round pupils similar to that of humans. This is because panthers are, more often than not, strictly nocturnal and therefore don't need slit pupils to minimize light. Daytime activity for panthers is considered aberrant behavior, though this is becoming more common. Panthers, like all other cats, can also sense color, although not quite as well as humans. Panther eyes are green to amber in color and set close together to help them see clearer and farther.

Animals & Science