The power and stealth of the puma have come to epitomize the wilderness, and the cat has therefore received prominent consideration in conservation and recovery efforts. These three species comprise the Puma lineage, one of the eight lineages of Felidae; the Puma lineage diverged from the rest 6.7  million years ago. The majority of pumas are found in more mountainous regions, therefore they have a thick fur coat to help retain body heat during freezing winters. The puma, a member of the family Felidae, has the widest distribution of any New World mammal, with a range extending from southeastern Alaska to southern Argentina and Chile. Type Species: Felis concolor Linnaeus, 1771, by original designation. At present they are primarily found west of 100° W longitude (approximately central Texas to Saskatchewan) except for southern Texas and are an endangered population in Florida (the Florida panther, P. concolor coryi). Traveling alternates with shorter periods of stalking, waiting in ambush, or resting. Nordamerikanischer Puma (Puma concolor cougar), inklusive des im März 2011 für ausgestorben erklärten Östlichen Nordamerikanischen Pumas"U.S. Pumas living near the Equator are generally smaller than those living farther north and south. It has powerful forequarters, neck, jaw which help grasp and hold their prey. Members of the genus Puma are primarily found in the mountains of North and South America, where a majority of individuals can be found in rocky crags and pastures lower than the slopes grazing herbivores inhabit. genus Puma species Puma concolor Name Synonyms Felis bituminosa Merriam & Stock, 1932 ... Orden Carnivora. Members of the genus are also known to make a variety of different sounds, particularly used when warning another individual away from their territory or during the mating season when looking for a mate. Puma is a genus in the family Felidae that contains the cougar (also known as the puma, among other names), and may also include several poorly known Old World fossil representatives (for example, Puma pardoides, or Owen's panther, a large, cougar-like cat of Eurasia's Pliocene). Until 1995 pumas were classified in the genus Felis, which formerly included many much-smaller and less-vocal cats but not the jaguar (Panthera onca). Subspecies of the puma genus include cats that are the fourth largest in the cat family. Adult males can reach around 7.9 ft from nose to tail, and a body weight averaging between 115-220 lbs. Females are somewhat shorter and average about 42 kg. Though they choose to inhabit those kind of areas, they are highly adaptive and can really be found in a large variety of habitats including; forests, tropical jungle, grasslands, and even arid desert regions. Individuals cover a large home range searching food, covering a distance of about 80 square miles during the summers and 40 square miles during the winters. Retrieved from "https://species.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Puma_concolor_cougar&oldid=4579970" Most deaths, however, are attributable to hunters, other cougars, or motor vehicles. Cubs are reared without assistance from adult males, which occasionally kill cubs that are not their own offspring. Pumas are usually silent, but during this time they emit long, frightening screams intermittently for several hours. GENUS Puma. Pumas live at low density (one to five per 100 square km) and thus, in order to survive, require large areas with sufficient prey and cover from which to ambush it. The life expectancy of individuals in the wild averages at 12 years, but can reach up to 25 years old in captivity. The higher and lower classifications of this group are as follows: Kingdom: Animalia (animals) Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates) Class: Mammalia (mammals) [4], From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, Hemmer, H., Kahlike, R.-D. & Vekua, A. K. (2004). The Animal … At the time of European settlement in the New World, pumas occupied all of what are today the lower 48 United States and southern Canada. They can reach speeds of up to 40-50 mph, but they are much better adapted for short and powerful sprints to catch their prey. Author: Jardine, 1834. Since 1970 control efforts in the United States and Canada have focused on known livestock killers, and most states and provinces now manage populations for sustained sport hunting. Salles (1992), Johnson and O'Brien (1997), Bininda-Emonds et al. [4], Breeding season normally occurs between December and March, with a 3-month gestation period resulting in a litter size of up to 6 cubs. Throughout its range its primary prey is hoofed mammals (ungulates, especially deer) larger than itself. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. They also have incredibly long tails, ranging from 25-37in of their body length. Puma's are incredibly powerful predators with muscular hind legs, which are slightly longer and stronger than the front, that enable them to be incredibly great leapers. It may take a year for them to become part of the breeding population, and during the transition an individual may sequentially occupy and abandon one to five small transient home ranges. The shade of brown varies geographically and seasonally from gray to reddish brown, and some black pumas have been reported; facial colour patterns are also variable. P. concolor is the only species of the genus Puma. The sister group of the Puma lineage is a clade of smaller Old World cats that includes the genera Felis, Otocolobus and Prionailurus. Tribe Acinonychini (Pocock, 1917) Genus Puma (Jardine, 1834) Subgenus †Viretailurus (Hemmer, 1965) †Puma pardoides (Owen, 1846) - Owen's panther; Subgenus Puma (Jardine, 1834) Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) - Cougar. Larger individuals are able to catch larger prey; such as sheep, raccoons, goats, and livestock. The majority of their diet includes small animals; such as mice, rats, birds, fish, rabbits, etc. A subspecies known as the eastern cougar (P. concolor cougar), which once inhabited the eastern United States and southern Ontario and was listed as endangered in 1973, was declared extinct in 2011. [2][3], The puma is a large, secretive cat. Updates? The … For example, habitat corridors are planned between large natural areas in order to benefit large carnivores such as the puma. Genus: Puma Species: concolor Synonym: Felis concolor Common names: Puma; Cougar; Mountain Lion Alternative common names: The Puma is renowned for the multitude of common names which the species possesses, although most of these are either indigenous names or colloquialisms - e.g. In North America each puma kills about 48 ungulates per year and a larger number of smaller prey, including rabbits and hares, coyotes, bobcats, porcupines, beavers, opossums, raccoons, skunks, and other pumas. Genus: Puma Species: concolor What is the genus species for plant? Based on genetic studies referenced in the last taxonomic revision of Felidae in 2017, six subspecies of Pumas are recognized: Puma concolor cougar - North America Puma concolor costaricensis - Central America. Fuchsia hybrid is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. Information is lacking for Central and South America, although most suitable habitats there are thought to be inhabited. When hunting, a puma moves about 10 km (6 miles) per night, hunting in several travel bouts averaging 1.2 hours each. names such as painter, catamount, screamer, devil-cat, mountain devil, etc are used in parts of the USA. Comments: Placed as a subgenus in Felis by McKenna and Bell (1997) who separated yagouaroundi into Felis (Herpailurus). Until the 1960s pumas were taken by U.S. government hunters and subject to state bounties. This page was last modified on 31 December 2015, at 22:28. Pumas live in a variety of habitats, including desert scrub, chaparral, swamps, and forests, but they avoid agricultural areas, flatlands, and other habitats lacking cover (vegetative or topographic). Cubs are able to eat solid food when they reach 2–3 months old and remain with their mother for about a year. Despite them being pushed into more hostile mountain areas, it is believed that their high adaptability allows for members of the genus to avoid disappearing from the wild forever. Citation: Natur. ref_scmas0984; Wilson, Don E., and DeeAnn M. Reeder, eds. Slower than most of its prey, it springs from cover at close range, usually from behind the intended victim. They have four r… Most victims are children or adults traveling alone. It lacks any obvious modifications and is abandoned when the cubs are about 40–70 days old. The head of the cats are round, with erect ears. Puma: pictures (11) Puma: specimens (14) Species Puma concolor cougar. Risk can be minimized by walking in groups and keeping children within sight. Genus : Synonym(s): Herpailurus Severtzov, 1858 : Common Name(s): pumas [English] Taxonomic Status: Current Standing: valid Data Quality Indicators: Record Credibility Rating: verified - standards met Global Species Completeness: complete : Latest Record Review: 2006 Puma is a genus in Felidae that contains the cougar (an aa kent as the puma, amang ither names) an the jaguarundi, an mey an aa include several puirly kent Auld Warld fossil representatives (for example, Puma pardoides, or "Owen's panther," a lairge cougar-like cat o Eurasie's Pleistocene). The long tail is commonly tipped with black and usually held close to the ground when the puma is walking. Genus and species are specific to each individual organism, so there is no genus species for all plants. Pumas are mainly tan-color, and can be up to 9 feet long, although average length is 6 – 8 feet. Puma is a genus in the family Felidae that contains the cougar (also known as the puma, among other names), and may also include several poorly known Old World fossil representatives (for example, Puma pardoides, or Owen's panther, a large, cougar-like cat of Eurasia's Pliocene).wikipedia 2a ed., Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., USA. Below is a listing of species and subspecies and their assignment to genera. When feeding on a large mammal, it minimizes spoilage and loss to scavengers by dragging the carcass to a secluded cache site and covering it with leaves and debris. An aggressive human response can avert an impending attack and can repel an attack in progress. Species: P. concolor. In fact, many feel that it is the Pumas ability to adapt to a number of different environments that has been the reason as to why the population is still as numerous as it is. It is rare for pumas to feed on carcasses that they did not kill. It has powerful forequarters, neck, jaw which help grasp and hold their prey. Cougar range Pumas (Puma concolor), also called cougars, mountain lions or brown panthers, are large wild cats that live in the western half of North America, along with Florida, and most of Central and South America. During the day the cat commonly beds within 50 metres of the carcass, and it will feed for an average of three nights on a large kill. Puma yagouaroundi: information (1) Puma yagouaroundi: pictures (2) Puma yagouaroundi: specimens (7) ADW Pocket Guides on the iOS App Store! Our latest episode for parents features the topic of empathy. Subspecies of the puma genus include cats that are the fourth largest in the cat family. In scientific classification (taxonomy) the three wild cats of the Puma lineage belong to the cat family Felidae and the small cat subfamily Felinae. Home ranges vary greatly in size, but the average female territory is 140 square km (54 square miles), with male territories being about twice as large. [4], Members of the puma genus are primarily found in the mountains of North and South America, where a majority of individuals can be found in rocky crags and pastures slowly down lower than the slopes grazing herbivores inhabit. P. c. couguar (Kerr, 1792) - North American cougar Genul Puma include o specie fosilă și două specii în viață, ambele cu diverse subspecii:. Like most other felines, cubs are born blind and are completely helpless for roughly about the first 2 weeks of their life until their eyes open. The interval between births is about two years, but it is less if a litter dies or disperses early. After mating, male and female will part ways while the male will continue on to mate with other females for the duration of the mating season, while the female will care for the cubs on her own. There are 7 subspecies of puma, all of which have similar characteristics but tend to vary in color and size. Fuchsia hybrid is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. It was placed in the genus Puma by William Jardine in 1834. Puma, ( Puma concolor ), also called mountain lion, cougar, panther (eastern U.S.), or catamount (archaic), large brownish New World cat comparable in size to the jaguar —the only other large cat of the Western Hemisphere. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? Puma concolor https://www.britannica.com/animal/puma-mammal-species, Natural Science Research Laboratory - The Mammals of Texas - Mountain Lion, Texas Parks and WildLife Department - Mountain Lion, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - North American Mammals - Puma concolor, USDA - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Cougar, San Diego Zoo Animals and Plants - Mountain Lion, Puma - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), puma - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). It was described as a distinct cougar subspecies (Puma concolor coryi) in the late 19th century. The cougar is most closely related to the jaguarundi, as well as the modern cheetah of Africa and western Asia. If a home range can be established, the cat can be expected to live another 7–11 years. Omissions? Domestic livestock, especially sheep, goats, and young calves, are also taken. The specific name concolor (“of one colour”) refers to the puma’s fur, which is uniformly brown on the back, sides, limbs, and tail. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The puma is active mostly at dusk, night, and dawn. Unfortunately, with the expansion of human settlements and land clearance, the cats are being pushed into smaller areas of habitat. While females can reach around 6.7 ft from nose to tail, and a body weight averaging between 64-141 lbs. The Old World puma, https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Puma_(genus)&oldid=4894242, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core. This genus is part of the Felinae. They also have incredibly long tails, ranging from 25-37in of their body length. US Fish & Wildlife Service. Except when feeding on large prey, a puma rarely beds in the same location on successive days. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Puma's are thought to be one of the most adaptable of felines on the American continents, for the fact that they are found in a variety of different habitats unlike other various cat species.[4]. Puma (Puma concolor) Subspecies Lower Classifications. Genus: Puma. The head of the cats are round, with erect ears. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. They are able to leap as high as 18 ft into the air and leap as far as 40–45 ft horizontally. Research has demonstrated that dispersing pumas readily find and use habitat corridors, and radio tracking of these wide-ranging predators can be used to identify appropriate areas to conserve as corridors. Pumas breed throughout the year, with a summer peak in births at higher latitudes. Although cougars are elusive and usually avoid people, there are about four attacks and one fatality per year on humans in the United States and Canada. Puma concolor: information (1) Puma concolor: pictures (9) Puma concolor: specimens (7) Species Puma yagouaroundi jaguarundi. [4], Members of this genus are large and powerful carnivores. (The name puma is a native Peruvian term.) Though despite their large size, it has been believed that they are more closely related to smaller feline species. Individuals who live in colder climates have coats that are more grey than individuals living in warmer climates with a more red color to their coat. There is extensive overlap between female home ranges but very little overlap between territories of adjacent males. The underside is lighter. Libr. Felis concolor was the scientific name proposed by Carl Linnaeus in 1771 for a cat with a long tail from Brasilia. Puma Family Classification. Puma yagouaroundi, Herpailurus Severtzow, 1858 Adult males can reach around 7.9 ft from nose to tail, and a body weight averaging between 115-220 lbs. Abgerufen am 21. [4], Although they have been pushed into smaller habitats, due to human settlement expansion, members of the genus have been named as an animal of Least Concern of becoming extinct in its natural environment in the near future by the IUCN. Puma, (Puma concolor), also called mountain lion, cougar, panther (eastern U.S.), or catamount (archaic), large brownish New World cat comparable in size to the jaguar—the only other large cat of the Western Hemisphere. They are also commonly known as cougars and mountain lions, and are able to reach larger sizes than other "big" cat individuals. Fuchsia hybrid is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Since 1950 pumas have been eliminated from the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Pp: 279-348, en: Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference (DE Wilson y DM Reeder, eds.). Viretailurus Hemmer, 1965, Puma is a genus in Felidae that contains the cougar (also known as the puma, among other names) and the jaguarundi, and may also include several poorly known Old World fossil representatives (for example, Puma pardoides, or "Owen's panther," a large cougar-like cat of Eurasia's Pliocene). Although photographs and videos of cute domesticated cats are frequent subjects of Internet searches and social media posts, how much do you really know about the larger members of the cat family? The spots allow the cubs to camouflage better from predators. In a given region there are about two adult females for every male. [4], Members of the genus live solitarily, with the exception of the time cubs spend with their mother. Associate Professor, Conservation Biology and Wildlife Ecology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, U.S. Upon surviving their first two years, juvenile females disperse 9–140 km (average 32 km); juvenile males generally disperse farther, sometimes traveling more than 250 km. Genus Puma puma and jaguarundi. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Cubs accompany their mother until dispersing at 10–26 months of age, but most die before they can fend for themselves. While females can reach around 6.7 ft from nose to tail, and a body weight averaging between 64-141 lbs. Extant species Distribution and habitat. : 266-267. The Florida panther has long been considered a unique cougar subspecies, with the scientific name Felis concolor coryi proposed by Outram Bangs in 1899. In most of the western United States and Canada, populations of mountain lions (P. concolor concolor) are thought to be stable or increasing except where habitat is being fragmented by urban sprawl. Fuchsia hybrid is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771) - puma. Adult males and females are both solitary except for breeding associations lasting one to six days. They have four retractable claws on on its forepaws, and also their hind paws. They are also able to hunt during the night just as affectively as they can during the day. Males in North America average 62 kg (136 pounds), but rare individuals can exceed 100 kg; length is about 1.2 metres (4 feet), excluding the 0.75-metre (2.5-foot) tail. Genus: Puma (changed in 1993 from ... Pumas are a protected species in many areas, with hunting prohibited in many South American nations. Fuchsia hybrid is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. Cats are native to almost every region on Earth, with the…. Cubs are born with spots and will eventually lose all of them as they reach adulthood. Fish and Wildlife Service concludes eastern cougar extinct". Puma este un gen de mamifere placentare din familia Felidae, native din America, care include specia tip puma.. Specii. †Puma pardoides include the cheetah, puma, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, tiger, and domestic cat. Fuchsia hybrid is a genus of flowering plants that consists mostly of shrubs or small trees. Depending on subspecies and the location of their habitat, the puma's fur varies in color from brown-yellow to grey-red. Wolves and bears occasionally kill pumas and sometimes commandeer the carcasses of prey killed by them. Cubs are born after a 90-day gestation period; the litter size usually is three but ranges from one to six. Spotted and born blind, each weighs about half a kilogram. Six subspecies of Puma concolor are recognized by most classifications. This is due to their high adaptiveness to changing habitat conditions. Puma concolor capricornensis - South America - eastern The birth site, usually in nearly impenetrable vegetation, is kept free of feces and prey remains. Puma concolor concolor; Puma concolor anthonyi; Puma concolor cabrerae; Puma concolor costaricensis; Puma concolor couguar