Chapter 1: A Taxonomic Adventure

Recently, I made a notable mistake in my previous column where I mistakenly referred to Panthera onca (the jaguar) instead of Panthera pardus (the leopard). This blunder stings, especially since jaguars are my favorite big cats. To clarify my earlier point, it's best to avoid direct eye contact with either leopards or jaguars during wild encounters.

To make amends for my error, I'm stepping away from my backyard observations to explore the captivating world of naming and categorizing big cats.

When you think of “big cats,” what comes to mind? Can you identify which of these belong to that group: lion, tiger, cheetah, puma, jaguar, catamount, leopard, snow leopard, panther, caracal, lynx, clouded leopard, and the Maine coon cat? Feel free to add any I might have missed.

If your list exceeds five, then you’re in the right place! It was only recently that I found myself immersed in the complexities of cat classifications. I teach an online course for children titled “Keeping Up with the Kingdoms,” where my students expressed interest in learning more about cats. As someone who appreciates neat classifications, I found the insights I gained quite amusing.

Let’s clarify the term “feline.” All creatures commonly labeled as “cats” belong to the Felidae family (FEE luh dee), yet not every member of this family is scientifically classified as a “feline.” The Felidae family is divided into two subfamilies: felinae and pantherinae.

Take a moment to reflect. You can categorize all cats into two primary groups: felines and panthers. Which cats would you assign to each group? Perhaps draw a simple two-column chart for fun.

Now for an exciting revelation: the animals that scientists label as “big cats” fall under the pantherinae subfamily, while all others are classified as felinae.

The five members of the pantherinae subfamily include lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, and snow leopards. Some scientists define “big cats” strictly as those within the pantherinae subfamily, while others consider only those species that can roar. Interestingly, although all pantherinae can either roar or purr, none can do both. Wouldn’t it be neat if all pantherinae roared? Unfortunately, snow leopards do not have this ability; instead, they can purr, mew, hiss, growl, yowl, moan, and chuff. You can choose your own criteria when discussing “big cats.” Personally, I include snow leopards, even though they’re not leopards per se.

Cheetahs and mountain lions, however, don’t fit the definition of “big cats” by either standard.

Are any of the pantherinae actually “panthers”? Probably not. The term is often used interchangeably with cougar, puma, mountain lion, and catamount, which all refer to the same species in the genus Puma. Even the Florida panther is classified as a cougar.

What about the term "black panther"? This is where it gets intriguing. There has never been a confirmed sighting of a black Florida panther, puma, or cougar. In scientific terms, the existence of such an animal has not been proven.

The creatures commonly referred to as “black panthers” are actually melanistic jaguars and leopards. Melanism refers to a genetic mutation that results in very dark fur. It’s worth noting that melanism does not occur in humans.

So while panthers aren’t truly panthers, and not all big cats fit the conventional mold, there’s more to unpack. According to my biologist friend Robin Russel, the species name for jaguars, onca, originates from an Italian word that means leopard or lynx, even though jaguars don’t belong to either category.

This entire discussion delights the part of my brain that revels in science, linguistics, taxonomy, and history. In my studies of linguistics, I learned that language is descriptive rather than prescriptive, meaning we should be adaptable to the evolving nature of words. The same principle applies to taxonomy, which has transitioned from physical and behavioral classifications to include fossil records and DNA analysis. Taxonomists are constantly on the move in this ever-evolving landscape.

I find it amusing how complex the classification of cats can be. You might say organizing the Felidae family is akin to herding cats.

One last note: when you hear people refer to cougars as panthers, or cheetahs as big cats, it’s best to hold your tongue to avoid sounding overly pedantic. Common names and nicknames are perfectly acceptable.

As I mentioned earlier, my favorite big cat is the jaguar for various reasons that I’d love to discuss further. What about you? Do you have a favorite big cat? I’m eager to hear your thoughts.

(Note: This article was originally published in The Auburn Villager on 9/9/22.)

Mary Dansak is a writer and a retired science education specialist residing in Auburn, AL. She can be contacted at [email protected].

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