Are you fascinated by the beauty of black animals? From the majestic black panther to the mighty American black bear, black animals have a unique and striking appearance. While some may associate black with darkness and negativity, black animals are anything but that. They are often associated with power, elegance, and mystery.
Black Panther
If you’re a fan of superheroes, you might think of the Black Panther as a comic book hero. However, did you know that the term “black panther” also refers to a type of big cat with a black coat? Specifically, it is the melanistic colour variant of the leopard (Panthera pardus) and the jaguar (Panthera onca).
Black panthers have excess black pigments, but their typical rosettes remain. They are mostly found in tropical forests, with black leopards in Africa and Asia and black jaguars in South America. Their piecing yellow eyes help them see at night.
Although black panthers are sometimes considered separate species, they are not. They are simply a colour variant of the leopard or jaguar. Black panthers can even give birth to cubs with the typical rosette pattern.
Black panthers are revered as powerful symbols of strength and courage in some cultures. In others, they are feared as dangerous predators. Regardless of your opinion, there is no denying the majesty and mystery of the black panther.
American Black Bear
If you’re looking for a black animal that is both fascinating and a little bit scary, look no further than the American black bear. This bear species is native to North America and is the continent’s smallest and most widely distributed bear species.
American black bears are omnivores, meaning they eat plants and animals. Their diet varies greatly depending on the season and location, but it generally consists of berries, nuts, insects, small mammals, and fish. They are also known to raid bird nests and beehives occasionally.
American black bears are excellent climbers. They can climb trees to escape predators or to find food, and they are also known to use trees as lookout posts.
Despite their name, American black bears can be a variety of colours, including brown, cinnamon, and even white. However, most American black bears are indeed black, which is why they are often associated with the colour.
Black Saddlebags
The black saddlebags is a relatively large dragonfly, measuring about 5 cm long. It is a skimmer species and typically stays in flight, rarely perching for long. The dark blotches on each hindwing, positioned close to the body, give the dragonfly its name and make it easy to identify.
This dragonfly species can be found near water sources such as ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. It is a voracious predator, feeding on various insects, including mosquitoes, flies, and other dragonflies.
Raven
Ravens are similar in appearance to crows, but they are larger and have a distinctive shaggy throat. They are entirely black, with a thick neck, a heavy black bill, and a wedge-shaped tail. Ravens are one of the largest passerine birds, with a length of up to 27 inches and a wingspan of up to 4 feet.
Ravens are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arctic to the deserts of North Africa. They are highly adaptable and can live in various habitats, including forests, mountains, and urban areas. Ravens are often associated with wilderness and are commonly seen in the company of wolves and other large predators.
Ravens are intelligent and social birds that form strong pair bonds. They are known for their complex vocalizations, which include a variety of calls, croaks, and even mimicry of other animals. Ravens are omnivores and eat almost anything, including carrion, insects, fruits, and small animals.
Ravens have played an important role in the mythology and folklore of many cultures. In Norse mythology, the god Odin had two ravens named Huginn and Muninn, who flew around the world and reported back to him. In Native American mythology, the raven is often seen as a trickster figure who uses his intelligence to outsmart his enemies.
Bonobo
Also known as the pygmy chimpanzee, the Bonobo is one of the two species that make up the Pan genus, the other being the common chimpanzee.
Bonobos have a unique appearance with black faces, parted long hair, red lips, and webbed toes. These great apes are about two-thirds the size of humans and weigh between 68 and 86 pounds.
Bonobos are found in the lowland rainforests along the south bank of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their diet includes fruits, leaves, bark, and insects.
Bonobos live in groups called troops and are known for their peaceful and cooperative nature. Unlike common chimpanzees, Bonobos rarely engage in violent behaviour. They use social grooming as a way to build relationships and resolve conflicts.
In addition to their unique behaviour, Bonobos share 98.7% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest living relatives along with the common chimpanzee.
Ayam Cemani
This chicken breed is known for its completely black appearance, including its feathers, beak, comb, tongue, and toes. Even its meat, bones, and organs are black or grey. The Ayam Cemani is believed to be the most intensely pigmented creature on earth.
The black colour of the Ayam Cemani occurs due to excess pigmentation of the tissues caused by a genetic condition known as fibromatosis. This breed originated in Indonesia and was traditionally used for sacrificial purposes. Today, the Ayam Cemani is primarily kept for ornamental purposes and is highly valued for its unique appearance.
Eastern Indigo Snake
This non-venomous snake is the longest native snake in the United States, reaching almost 9 feet. Its colour is uniformly a lustrous black, although the chin, throat, and sometimes the cheeks may be red to creamy in colour.
The Eastern Indigo Snake is an icon of the southern longleaf pine forest, and it is a threatened species. It is found in the southeastern United States, from southern South Carolina to southeastern Louisiana. The snake is known for its impressive size, smooth scales, and iridescent sheen.
One of the most fascinating things about the Eastern Indigo Snake is its diet. It is a carnivorous species that feeds on a variety of prey, including rodents, birds, frogs and lizards. The snake is also immune to the venom of other snakes, including venomous species like rattlesnakes, so even rattlesnakes are on the menu.
Black Swan
These large waterfowl are native to Australia and easily recognizable by their black plumage, bright red eyes, and beaks.
Black Swans are large birds, with males weighing 9.2 kg and females weighing 7.7 kg. Their iridescent black feathers can appear green or purple in the right light. Their red beaks are long and slender, with a white band around the base. They have long necks and legs, which help them swim and forage for food in shallow water.
Black Swans are monogamous and form strong pair bonds. They are also territorial and will defend their nesting sites aggressively. During courtship, the male will display head bobbing and wing flapping to attract a female.
Cactus Longhorn Beetle
These large, flightless insects are found in the western United States and northern Mexico deserts. They are part of the Moneilema genus, and Moneilema gigas is the most common species.
Cactus Longhorn Beetles are known for their distinctive appearance. They have black shells, which are usually glossy and may be mottled with white. The front wings of these beetles are fused, forming a single, hardened shell. This is where the group derives its Latin name.
Greater Ani
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The greater ani belongs to the cuckoo family, sometimes called the black cuckoo. It is known for its unique appearance and behaviour.
The adult is mainly blue-glossed black, with a long tail, massive ridged black bill, and a white iris. Immature birds have brown iris. The male weighs around 162 g (5.7 oz), while the female weighs 145 g (5.1 oz). Its distinctive features include its staring yellow eyes and glossy blue, green, and purple sheen on the wings and tail.
This bird is always associated with water and is especially apt to be found low in the forest edge around slow-moving rivers and lakes. It is a terrestrial migratory bird that can be found in Central and South America, including Brazil, Ecuador, and Colombia.
The Greater Ani is a social bird that lives in groups of up to a dozen individuals. They are known for their cooperative breeding behaviour, where several females lay their eggs in a single nest. The group then cooperatively incubates and raises the young birds. They are also known for their turkey-like gobbling kro-koro calls and croaking sounds.
Celebes Crested Macaque
This Old World monkey, also known as the crested black macaque, is native to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and smaller neighbouring islands.
One of the most striking features of the Celebes crested macaque is its distinctive crest of hair on top of its head, which gives it a unique and regal appearance. The rest of its fur is black, which makes it stand out among other primates in the area.
They are primarily arboreal, spending most of their time in trees, but they also come down to the ground to forage for food.
Despite their endangered status, Celebes crested macaques have gained some notoriety in recent years due to their unique personalities and behaviour. They have been observed using tools, such as using sticks to probe for insects or to crack open nuts.
Pilot Whale
Pilot whales are highly social animals known for their black colour and bulbous foreheads. They can grow up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) long and can be found in the Southern Hemisphere and North Atlantic waters.
These whales are known for their complex familial relationships with their pods from birth. They often maintain strong social bonds and communicate with each other through a variety of vocalizations.
Pilot whales are also known for their intelligence and are capable of problem-solving and learning from their experiences. They are able to navigate through the ocean using echolocation, which allows them to locate prey and avoid obstacles.