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The cougar (Puma concolor) (/ ˈkuːɡər /, KOO-gər), also known as the panther, mountain lion, catamount and puma, is a large cat native to the Americas. It inhabits North, Central and South America, making it the most widely distributed wild, terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most widespread in the world.
- Top Facts
- Scientific Name
- Types
- Appearance & Behavior
- Evolution
- Habitat
- Predators & Threats and Diet
- Reproduction, Babies and Lifespan
- Population
Cry like house cats: Mountain lions do not roar, instead using a distinct mountain lion scream, growl, hiss, meow and purr
The mountain lion’s scientific name is Puma concolor, from the Spanish word puma of Latin origin. The name translates to mean “mountain lion” in Spanish, French, German and other Latin-based languages. The big cat’s phylum is Chordata, in the class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Felidae and genus Puma. Early Spanish explorers of the Americas cal...
There are two main mountain lion subspecies: 1. South American cougar (Puma concolor concolor): This subspecies is found in countries which include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. 2. North American cougar (Puma concolor couguar): This subspecies lives in Canada, Central America, Florida, Mexico, and the western United Stat...
These predators look very much like over-sized short-hair house cats. They have small heads with short faces. Ears are rounded and small. Their bodies are long and sleek, with long necks and tails. Puma legs are powerful, suited to rapid increase of speed and made for pouncing. The cats’ teeth seize their prey, tearing and slashing the meat. The av...
Experts assert that the mountain lion’s ancestor first appeared in Asia about 11 million years ago. Three million years later, it would cross the Bering land bridge to North America. In its new home, it would differentiate into different genetic strains, including those responsible for wild and domestic felines, ocelots, oncillas, lynxes, and mount...
Mountain lions live throughout the Americas, from the Yukon of Canada to the subtropics of South America. No other American mammal, except humans, spans such a wide land range. They can live in almost any type of habitat, such as mountains, wetlands, forests and deserts, also from sea-level areas to the highest snow-covered mountain peaks. Although...
The biggest threats to mountain lions are humans. These cats are apex predators, near the top of the food chain. They are sometimes killed by brown bear or as part of territory fights with other mountain lions. Mountain lions once lived from the east coast of America to the west coast. But people feared the big cats and believed them to be predator...
Mountain lion females can mate with several males in one reproductive season, called estrus. Typically, the female prefers to mate with a male from an overlapping territory. The three to 10 days of a mating period is the only time humans see males and females together. Otherwise, they remain solitary animals and avoid contact. For both females and ...
As of 2015, the existing mountain lion population is listed as decreasing due to diminishing habitat, but stable. Overall, the species is not endangered. This is with a few exceptions, including the subspecies of Florida panthersand the now extinct eastern cougar. The eastern cougar was declared officially extinct in 2011 by the U.S. Fish & Wildlif...
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- October 10, 1988
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Jan 6, 2021 · They are found in 28 countries in the Americas, from southern Alaska to the southernmost tip of Chile in western South America. Mountain lions can live in a wide variety of habitats like forests, prairies, deserts, and swamps. They thrive in mountainous terrain and steep, rocky canyons.
- Mammal
- 64 to 80 kmph
- Puma concolor
- 53 to 100 kg (males); 29 and 64 kg (females)
The cougar, also known as the mountain lion or puma, is a symbol of stealth and strength in the wild. As one of the most adaptable and widespread large predators in the Americas, the cougar has inspired awe and respect across cultures.
- Mammalia ( Mammals)
- Chordata
- Carnivora
The mountain lion—also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount—is a large cat species native to the Americas. Mountain lions are large, tan cats. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest.
May 1, 2023 · The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as mountain lion, is the one of the largest cats in North America and a top predator native to Greater Yellowstone. (The jaguar, which occurs in New Mexico and Arizona, is larger.)
The cougar is a cat of many names: Puma, mountain lion, and catamount, among others. This adaptable predator has the widest range of any land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, and can be...
