Are there black panthers in east Texas?

The black panther is a name commonly used to refer to melanistic color variants of several big cat species, particularly the leopard (Panthera pardus) and the jaguar (Panthera onca). Although melanism is known to occur in both species, it is more prevalent in the leopard. In North America, the existence of black panthers is primarily associated with the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), a subspecies of cougar found in the southern United States. East Texas is not included in the known historical range of the Florida panther, and there are no confirmed records of black panthers in that area.