JAGUARETE - INTERESTING CRYPTID

The question to ask about the Jaguarete is, Did it ever exist?  G.Markgrave in 1648 sppeaks of a jaguarete, but he seems to mean a melanistic jaguar.  However, T. Pennant in 1771 speaks of a "black tiger".  This may be the animal which in the 18th Century was called a jaguarete by commentators.  It had light underparts, so it could not be a melanistic jaguar.   The jaguarete's existence was once accepted by scientists, but they do not now consider there is sufficient evidence to warrant belief in the animal.