PUMA

Puma (Felis concolor) also called American Lion, Cougar, Deer Tiger, Mexican Lion, Panther, Painter, Mountain Lion, or Catamount (Felis concolor), large, graceful cat, family Felidae, exceeded in size only by the jaguar among cats of the New World. The name puma is derived from usage by the Inca Indians. The puma ranges widely from British Columbia to Patagonia in habitats as varied as mountains, deserts, and jungles. In many regions, however, local races or subspecies have been eliminated by humans, and pumas are now generally restricted to wilderness areas. The eastern puma (F. concolor cougar) of North America and the Florida cougar (F. concolor coryi) of the southern United States are considered endangered. A wide range of coloration exists among pumas, from pale buff to reddish brown. The ears and tail tip are generally dark, while the rump and belly are white. There is no mane. The weight of the adult ranges from about 35 to more than 100 kg (77 to 220 pounds). A large male may be about 3 m (9 feet) long, one-third of which is tail, and may stand 6075 cm (2430 inches) tall at the shoulder. The female is smaller. The voice of the puma is like that of a domestic cat but louder; its mating call is a harsh scream. Breeding occurs at any time of year, the female usually bearing young every other year. A litter consists of one to five spotted kittens born after a gestation period of about 90 days. The young are playful and begin to follow the female on hunts in about two months. Sexual maturity is attained at two or three years. The puma eats a considerable range of foods; in North America it demonstrates a preference for deer when they are available. Occasionally it kills livestock, but as with other predators it is valuable in maintaining the balance of nature by preventing overpopulation of prey animals. The puma is hunted, for bounty or for sport, by such means as dogs, traps, and open pits. Though attacks on people are still rare, the growth of residential construction in wilderness areas led to an increase in puma attacks in the 1990s.