Melanism is the opposite of albinism. Instead of lacking in dark pigment, animals with melanism have an over abundance of dark-colored pigment. When that happens in large cats like leopards and jaguars you end up with a panther. So Panthers aren’t a species of large cat, but leopards and jaguars super adapted to jumping on your head and tearing your neck out as you try to colonize the jungle parts of what was once called Burma.
How does this factor into the Mascots Matchups theory of picking the Super Bowl Champion? It might not be an straightforward as you think. Sit tight and I’ll let you know this Wednesday.