If you had to take a guess as to what type of big cat you were looking at here, we think most of you would either say an especially black cheetah, or an especially black jaguar. You're not far off with the second guess, but this isn't technically a standard jaguar at all; it's a unique species in its own right called the black jaguar, and it's one of the rarest animals in the world. With its rich golden highlights and deep, dark black spots, it's a regal creature to behold.
That's not to say it isn't related though; the species has a lot in common with not only regular jaguars, but also leopards and panthers. That means that however attractive it is to look at, and however much you might want to stroke it, we wouldn't recommend trying to do so. It's a very fast and very powerful hunter, and it might decide you look tasty.