Puma (Puma concolor)
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
IUCN Red List: LC (Least concern)
I–II.
Habitat
Temperate and tropical forests, grasslands and wetlands of the Americas
Informations
Among the mammals of the American continent, the puma once had one of the widest ranges, stretching from temperate regions to the tropics. In North and South America it is known by more than 80 different local names, including mountain lion, cougar, catamount, or red tiger. Many individuals fall victim to hunting, as they are often blamed for killing livestock and are feared by people.
Although it is a large feline, the puma is not classified among the “big cats” of the genus Panthera, because it cannot roar. Instead, it purrs, growls, and hisses, producing deeper sounds than those of domestic cats. The puma hunts alone and often attacks from ambush. It frequently kills its prey with a single powerful bite to the back of the skull. The carcass is usually buried or covered with leaves and soil so it can serve as food for several days while the puma continues roaming and returns to it when needed.
Its coat is usually yellowish-brown or sandy in color, which helps it blend into its surroundings and approach its main prey, deer, unnoticed. The cubs are covered with dark brown spots, but these markings gradually disappear as the animals grow older.