The cougar is a big cat found in many different habitats throughout North America, Central America and South America. The cougar has more names than any other animal, such as the mountain lion, silver lion, Mexican lion, mountain screamer, red tiger, panther, puma, deer tiger, mountain cat and catamount. Cougars are the fourth largest cat of all the wild cats.

cougar puma mountain lionMany people consider the Critically Endangered Florida panther a cougar subspecies. There are less than 100 Florida panthers in the wild. In Brazil and Peru, the cougar is considered Near Threatened. Of the four subspecies of cougar found in Canada, one has been officially listed as Endangered.

Cougars do not roar, but they can purr like a housecat.

Scientific Name: Puma concolor
Conservation Status: Least Concern

Subspecies: There have been descriptions of 32 cougar subspecies. According to genetic analysis however, there are six subspecies:

  • North America (Puma concolor couguar)
  • Costa Rican cougar (Puma concolor costaricensis) – Central America
  • Eastern South America (Puma concolor anthonyi)
  • Northern South America (Puma concolor concolor)
  • Central South America (Puma concolor cabrerae) – also called the Argentine puma
  • Southern South America (Puma concolor puma)

 

A possible 7th subspecies is the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). Cougars generally live between 10 to 12 years in the wild.

Most recently, it is believed that only two subspecies should be recognized. The current valid subspecies are: Puma concolor concolor (South America) and Puma concolor cougar (North and Central America).

Meaning of the name

From the French word “couguar” or possibly the Portuguese (from Brazil) word “cucurana” or Tupi (an indigenous people of Brazil) word “susuarana,” suasu meaning “deer” and ran meaning  “false.”

Interesting facts about cougars

  • The fourth largest cat of all wild cats
  • Second largest big cat in the Americas
  • Has more names than any other animal (world record)
  • In comparison to its size, the cat’s hind legs are larger than any other wild cat.

 

More about the cougar

Physical appearance

Cougars have sharp teethMale cougars weigh between 115 to 220 lbs. and average around 8 ft. in length from nose to tail, with a range of 4.9 to 9.0 ft. Females are smaller, weighing between 64 and 141 lbs., and averaging approximately 6.7 ft. in length. Cougars that live closer to the equator are smaller than those that live further away.

The fur of the cougar is varied, from light buff to reddish-brown or even silver-grey, with a white underbelly. The tip of the cat’s tail is dark, as well as its ears. Relative to its size, the hind legs of the cougar are larger than any other wild cat.

They can jump vertically as high as 18 feet and horizontally up to 45 ft. The cougar can also run up to 50 mph. The cougar has long canine teeth set in muscular jaws, which enables it to grip large prey with its teeth. The cat’s teeth are also extremely sharp and can cut through bone, meat and tendons.

Where cougars live

Cougars can be found throughout Canada, the United States, Central America and South America. The geography of the areas where they live can be extremely varied, from forests and swamps to mountain terrain. Males cougars roam from 93 to 600 miles, while females will roam between 65 and 310 miles.

Hunting and prey (diet)

Cougars relay on sight more than smell when hunting. Cougars prey on deer, rodents, sheep, cattle and even horses. They will also eat insects. The cat will typically stalk and then ambush their prey.

cougars live for 10 years in the wildReproduction and lifespan

Most females will have a litter once every two to three years. They will raise the cubs on their own. The average size of a litter is two cubs, with a range of one to six. The cubs will leave their mother at around two years of age. In the wild, cougars live for about 10 years. The lifespan of a captive cougar can be as long as 20 years.

Cougar conservation issues

Conservation issues for the cougar include habitat loss, poaching, loss of prey, fragmentation, hunting and, in the case of the Florida panther, vehicle kills. Humans are the only species that prey on cougars.

Find cougar conservation organizations…

 


Comments

Cougar — 5 Comments

  1. Hi Lara,

    There is an expanded definition of “big cats” that we use that includes the cheetah and cougar. And you are right, when some people talk about big cats, they only mean the ones that roar – lions, tigers, jaguars and leopards.

    Best,
    Rebecca

  2. Cougars are actually in the small cat classification. Big and small cats are not classified by body size, rather primarily by their ability (or lack there of) to either roar or purr. (There are a few other characteristics as well but roar vs purr is the primary distinction). They are the largest member of the small cats. They cannot roar and do purr.

  3. Hey there trying to identify an animal I have seen in humboldt area hunting it’s a mountain lion looking animal little more slim though also has the last foot of his tail is stripes beautiful cat but haven’t identified it yet

    Thanks Red

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