Around 10% of jaguars display melanism, appearing almost entirely black with ghost rosettes—faint dark spots that can be seen under bright light. These melanistic jaguars are the same species but may ...

Zoo officials announced the death of the 21-year-old black jaguar Wednesday morning. She had developed kidney disease, which was diagnosed in January.

Both leopards and jaguars that are black are referred to as black panthers. Both species can develop a condition called melanism, which is an increase in the dark pigmentation of their fur.