For other uses, see Puma (disambiguation). ? Puma Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Puma Species: P. concolor Binomial name Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) The puma (Puma concolor since 1993, previously Felis concolor) is a type of predator-feline found in North, Central, and South America. Though large in size this cat cannot roar, but instead purrs and has even been said to make eerily humanlike screams when courting. It is more closely related to the common house cat than to the African lion. It is also known by the regional names of cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount, and painted cat. The word puma comes from the Quechua language. In North America, particularly the United States, panther by itself refers to a puma, although the term black panther is correctly associated only with the melanistic variants of leopards or jaguars rather than pumas. In Europe and Asia, panther means leopard and can refer to either the spotted or black leopard. In South America, panther refers to the jaguar and can refer to either the spotted or black jaguar. The melanistic gene can be seen in a variety of cats, including the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Jaguar, Caracal, Jaguarundi, Serval, Ocelot, Margay, Bobcat, Geoffrey's Cat; however, melanism has never been documented in Puma concolor, though urban legends of "black panthers" persist. Such anectdotal accounts are particularly prominent in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States, a region where P. concolor is accepted as having been wholly extirpated by the late 1800's, and where breeding populations have not been documented as re-established by 2005. Recent DNA analysis has established that the puma is quite closely related to the jaguarundi and, surprisingly, to the Cheetah (which is usually placed in its own subfamily). However, further research has shown that North American cheetahs (Miracinonyx, now extinct) are close relatives of the Puma, but not of true cheetahs. The puma is not closely related to other large felines, such as leopards and lions. There is a considerable variation in color and size of these animals across their large range of habitats. Contents 1 Subspecies 1.1 List of Subspecies 2 Hybrids 3 Population and distribution 3.1 Puma populations of the United States and Canada 4 Physical characteristics 5 Color Morphs 6 Behavior 6.1 Attacks on humans 6.1.1 Puma safety tips 7 Further reading 8 External links Subspecies The Florida panther is a rare subspecies of puma that lives in the low pinelands, palm forests and swamps of southern Florida in the United States, especially near the Big Cypress Swamp. There is currently a widespread effort in Florida to try to save the remaining population of the state's native panthers, as their numbers are extremely sparse. Estimates of their wild numbers range anywhere from 25 to 50 individuals. The Florida panther may be recognized in its smaller size (compared to other puma), a broader skull, and longer legs. As a result of inbreeding due to small population, this subspecies is beginning to exhibit a crook at the end of its tail and a whorls of fur on the back. There once was a subspecies of puma in Wisconsin called the Wisconsin Cougar (F. c. schorgeri). Unfortunately it vanished into extinction as late as 1925. List of Subspecies Florida Panther Wisconsin Cougar (extinct) Eastern Cougar Mexican Cougar Costa Rican Cougar Brazilian Cougar Baja Californian Cougar Patagonian Puma Hybrids Hybrids between subspecies of puma have occurred where new blood has been introduced into the Florida panther. Although a controversial move, the hybrids are more vigorous than pure Florida panthers and excessive inbreeding is averted. In spite of not being closely related to the pantherine big cats, hybrids between pumas and leopards have been bred and are called pumapards. Hybrids between a puma and an ocelot have also been bred. Hybrids between pumas and jaguars have been reported, but none have been proven. Population and distribution The range of the puma Pumas have one of the largest ranges of any wild cat, holding competition with only the Eurasian Lynx, Wild Cat and greatly spread Leopard. Before the modern human population explosion in the Americas, the puma ranged across most of the Americas. Even now, it has the widest range of any New World land animal, spanning 110 degrees of latitude, from the northern Yukon Territory (in Canada) to the southern Andes (on both the Chilean and Argentinian sides). One of the only locations where the puma is in great danger is within the United States, mainly Florida and other parts of the East Coast. This is mostly due to human infringement, clashing with cities and other urban "advancements" or because of the loss of territories that urbanization brings. When pumas are found and relocated to more "wild" parts of the state, they are put into competition with already existing cats. Puma populations of the United States and Canada Hunted almost to extinction in the United States, the puma has made a dramatic comeback, with an estimated 30,000 individuals in the western United States. In Canada, pumas are found west of the prairies, in Alberta, British Columbia and the southern Yukon. Pumas are gradually extending their range to the east, following creeks and riverbeds, and have reached Missouri and Michigan. It is anticipated that they will soon expand their range over the entire eastern and southern United States. There are continuing reports of the survival of a remnant population of the Eastern Cougar in New Brunswick, Ontario, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. Due to urbanization in the urban-wildland interface, pumas often come into contact with people, especially in areas with a large population of deer, their natural prey. They have also begun preying on pets, such as dogs and cats, and livestock, but have rarely turned to people as a source of food. There are an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 pumas in California (est. circa 1990) and an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 in Colorado. Puma, photographed in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona Physical characteristics Pumas are tawny-colored with black-tipped ears and tail. The puma can run as fast as 50 km/h (30 mph), jump 6 m (20 ft) from a standing position, vertically leap 2.5 m (8 ft), and often weigh more than 70 kg (150 lb). Their bite strength is more powerful than that of any domestic dog. Puma claws are retractable and they have four toes. Adult males may be more than eight feet long (nose to tail), and weigh about 70 kg (150 lb). In exceptional cases males may reach as much as 90 kg. Adult females can be 2 m (7 ft) long and weigh about 35 kg (75 lb). Puma kittens have brownish-blackish spots and rings on their tails. Their life span is about a decade in the wild and 25 years or more in captivity. Pumas that live closest to the equator are the smallest, and increase in size in populations closer to the poles. Color Morphs The normal coloration of the puma is tawny or sandy. Cubs have irregular blotches of darker brown which can sometimes persist into adolescence. Occasionally blotched adult pumas are reported and even photographed. Most are probably sub-adults. Abnormally pale and even white (leucistic but not albino) pumas exist. Abnormally dark brown pumas with paler bellies have been described, primarily from South and Central America and were described as couguar noire in Buffon. There are no authenticated reports of truly melanistic pumas. Behavior Pumas can kill and drag prey about 7 times their own weight. They normally hunt large mammals, such as deer and elk, but will eat small animals, such as beavers, porcupines or even mice, if the need arises. They hunt alone and ambush their prey, often from behind. They usually kill with a bite at the base of the skull to break the neck of their target. The carcass of the kill is usually then buried or partially covered to protect it for several days, while the puma continues to roam and comes back for nourishment as needed. Pumas do not enjoy being scavengers, however, and will generally hunt for their own food and not eat from a carcass. Pumas will catch and kill their prey 98% of the time, so perhaps they can afford to be a bit choosey. Like other cats, they will also move to certain areas for feeding. Adult males tend to claim a 250 km² (100 mile²) stretch for their territory; adult females take (50 to 150 km² (20 to 60 mile²) on average; however their ranges can vary from as much as 1,000 km² (370 mile²) to as little as 25 km² (10 mile²). A male may breed with several females. Female pumas usually have 3 or 4 kittens in a den in a rocky location. If a male puma invades the territory of another male, he may kill the kittens of resident females so that they will become receptive to mating. Melanistic form of Jaguar (Panthera onca), a larger relative of the puma. Attacks on humans Attacks on humans are rare, but do occur — especially as humans encroach on wildlands and impact the availability of the puma's traditional prey. There were around 100 puma attacks on humans in the USA and Canada during the period from 1890 to January 2004, with 16 fatalities; figures for California were 14 attacks and 6 fatalities. Attacks by puma on humans and pets are associated with urban areas situated in the wildland urban intermix such as the Boulder, Colorado area which have encouraged the traditional prey of the puma, the mule deer, to habituate to urban areas and the presence of people and pets. Pumas in such circumstances may come to lose their fear of both people and dogs and come to see them as prey. On January 8, 2004 a puma killed and partly ate a mountain biker in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Orange County, California; what is assumed to be the same animal attacked another mountain biker in the park the following day, but was fought off by other bikers. A young male puma was shot nearby by rangers later in the day. Pumas cannot be hunted in California except under very specific circumstances. This, as well as the extinction in California of the wolf and brown bear, has allowed the puma to greatly increase its numbers, as there are usually no longer any competing predators able to steal a puma's kill, though a few black bears may be strong enough to do so. Puma safety tips These safety tips were provided by the California Department of Fish and Game and compiled for The Orange County Register by news researcher M. Doss: Do not hike alone; go in groups with adults supervising children. If you are confronted by a mountain lion, do not run; that might stimulate a lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal, make eye contact. Pick up young children, without bending or turning from the lion if possible. Do not crouch down or bend over; you may appear like ordinary four-legged prey to the lion instead of a human. Do all you can to appear larger; raise your arms, open your jacket, throw stones, branches. Fight back if attacked. Mountain lions have been repelled with rocks, sticks, garden tools, kicks, and bare hands. The best place to hit a mountain lion is on the nose. Remove dense and low-lying vegetation that provide good hiding places for mountain lions. Install motion-sensitive outdoor lighting. Keep pets from roaming, and don't feed pets outside. Jogging and running on wildland trails can be particularly hazardous since such runners are likely to be less attentive to the surroundings and the motion can trigger a "chase and kill" reflex in the animal. Further reading David Baron, Beast in the Garden: A Modern Parable of Man and Nature, W. W. Norton, November, 2003, hardcover, 320 pages, ISBN 0393058077 External links Look up ]] in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ontario Puma Foundation Pumas in the Southern Rockies Cat Specialist Group: Puma (Puma concolor) The Mountain Lion aka Cougar and Puma Mountain Lion Foundation of Texas Mountain Lion Foundation of California Hinterland's Who's Who: Cougar Mountain Lion Attacks On People in the U.S. and Canada Mountain Lion Attacks Florida Panther Net Southern California Puma Project Cougars in Canada San Diego Zoo "Animal Bytes" - overview and pictures Puma Color Morphs The Mountain Lion in the desert food chain Fear-mongering about Puma concolor in NY State where none are proven to persist in the wild bg:Пума da:Puma de:Puma es:Puma concolor eo:Pumo fa:شیر کوهی fr:Puma ko:퓨마 he:פומה jv:Puma lt:Puma mk:Пума nah:Mistli nl:Poema ja:ピューマ pl:Puma pt:Suçuarana sv:Puma vi:Báo sÆ° tá»­ wa:Puma zh:美洲狮 Search Term: "Puma" Categories: Felines | Fauna of Mexico | Argentine fauna

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