Puma

Felis concolor

Last updated: April 5, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© Nick Jewell / Flickr / Original

Has longer back legs than front legs!


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Puma Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Puma
Scientific Name
Felis concolor

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Puma Conservation Status


Puma Facts

Prey
Rats, Deer, Sheep
Name Of Young
Cub
Group Behavior
  • Solitary
Fun Fact
Has longer back legs than front legs!
Estimated Population Size
50,000
Biggest Threat
Habitat loss
Most Distinctive Feature
Has a solid-coloured coat of fur
Other Name(s)
Cougar, Mountain Lion
Gestation Period
3 months
Habitat
mountain forest and jungle
Diet
Carnivore
Average Litter Size
4
Lifestyle
  • Crepuscular
Common Name
Puma
Number Of Species
7
Location
North and South America
Slogan
Has longer back legs than front legs!
Group
Mammal

Puma Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Grey
  • Yellow
  • Red
Skin Type
Fur
Top Speed
30 mph
Lifespan
10 - 15 years
Weight
67kg - 105kg (148lbs - 231.5lbs)
Height
1.1m - 2m (43in - 78.7in)
Age of Sexual Maturity
2 - 3 years
Age of Weaning
2 months

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Key Facts

  • Pumas are impressively athletic and are capable of leaping distances of 20 feet.
  • In spite of their shrinking range, their conservation status is Least Concern due to their adaptability.
  • In spite of their size they are not considered to be “Big Cats”, because they do not roar.

Classification

Mountain lion with forest background

Pumas are extremely adaptable and are capable of living in a wide variety of habitats

©Evgeniyqw/Shutterstock.com

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The Puma is a large, reclusive cat predominantly found in the mountains from southern Canada to the tip of South America. Also commonly known as the Cougar and the Mountain Lion, Pumas are able to reach larger sizes than some ‘big’ cat individuals but despite their large size they are believed to be more closely related to smaller feline species. Due to their extensive distribution, there are 7 subspecies of Puma all of which share similar characteristics but tend to vary slightly in color and occasionally size. The Puma is thought to be one of the most adaptable felines on the American continents as they are found in a variety of different habitats and unlike numerous Cat species, the Puma has no markings on its fur leading to its scientific name Felis concolor which means ‘cat of one color’.

Evolution

The ancestor of the puma is believed to have made its way from Asia to North America about 8 million years ago, via the Bering land bridge. This event is believed to have occurred 3 million years after it first appeared in Asia.

On arrival, it gave rise to the Felis (wild and domestic cats which would expand to Africa, Asia, and Europe)  Leopardus (ocelots, margays, oncillas, and other South American wild cats), Lynx (the Canadian, Eurasian, and Iberian lynxes), Puma (mountain lions), and Prionailurus (Asian leopard cats). 



 Between 6 to 4 million years later, these felines would make their way to South America by way of the Isthmus of Panama. 

It is worth noting that certain experts believe that the North American population of pumas eventually dwindled and that present-day cougars are actually arrivals which retraced their steps from South America to North America at a later date.

Anatomy and Appearance

Pumas have a wide range of vision owing to their wideset eyes

©Nick Jewell / Flickr

Due to the fact that the majority of Pumas are found in more mountainous regions, they have a thick coat of fur which helps to keep them warm in the freezing winters. Depending on the subspecies and location, the Puma’s fur varies in colour from brown-yellow to grey-red, with those individuals found in colder regions being more grey and those found in warmer areas having more of a red tinge to their fur. The Puma is an incredibly powerful predator and has muscular hind legs that are slightly longer and stronger than the front, which makes them more agile when leaping. They also have enormous paws which are very large in comparison to their body size. The Puma is an animal with large wide-set eyes which not only enable it to see what is ahead of it, but they can also see for some distance around them as well. They have pointed ears and their acute hearing allows them to detect prey even when it is too dark for them to see.

Distribution and Habitat

Deadliest Animals in America

Pumas can be found in deserts, plains, and jungles

©iStock.com/SandmanXX

The Puma is an animal that is found in the mountains throughout South and North America where it inhabits rocky crags and slightly lower pastures. Although these seem to be the Puma’s preferred habitats they are extremely adaptable animals that can be found in a variety of habitats including forests, tropical jungle, grasslands and even in more arid desert regions. However, with expanding Human settlements and land clearance for agriculture, the Puma is being pushed into smaller pockets of its historically vast range, retreating into more hostile mountain environments that are further away from people. It is widely believed however that the Puma’s adaptability has been vital in ensuring that it doesn’t disappear from the wild forever.

Behavior and Lifestyle

Cougar in fall leaves

Pumas prefer to hunt at night

©Evgeniyqw/Shutterstock.com

The Puma is a solitary animal with the exception of the time cubs spend with their mother. Pumas patrol large home ranges in search of food which varies from 80 square miles in the summer to 40 in the winter, when the falling snow restricts access to a number of mountain areas. Some regions can become so hostile that Pumas migrate from the mountain forests and go down into the valleys to escape the worst of the cold. Pumas are not only capable of easily adapting to different surroundings but they are also able to hunt effectively during the day or night. Their strong and muscular hind legs and large paws mean that the Puma can move about amongst the rocks more quickly and with greater agility. Pumas are known to make a variety of different sounds, particularly when warning another Puma away from their territory and during the mating season when they are looking for a mate.

Reproduction and Life Cycles

The breeding season tends to occur between December and March with litters of up to 6 cubs being born after a three-month gestation period, generally between February and September. After mating, the male and the female part company and he will continue to mate with other females for the duration of the season. Like numerous other felines, Puma cubs are born blind and are completely helpless for their first two weeks of life until their blue eyes fully open. Unlike the one-colour adult Pumas, cubs are born with spots on their fur which helps them to be more easily camouflaged from hungry predators. They are able to eat solid food when they are between 2 and 3 months old and remain with their mother for about a year. Many Pumas live to an average age of 12 years but they have been known to reach 25 years in captivity.

Diet and Prey

cougar eating

Pumas may occasionally hunt larger mammals or even livestock

©The Len/Shutterstock.com

The Puma is a large and powerful carnivore, hunting and eating only other animals in order to survive. The majority of the Puma’s diet is comprised of small animals like Mice, Rats, Birds, Fish, and Rabbits that are found living in abundance on fertile mountain slopes and in lowland forests. The large size of the Puma also means that it can hunt bigger animals including Sheep, Raccoons, Goats, and livestock which it catches by pouncing onto the animal to secure it. The Puma’s agile and incredibly muscular body means that it can easily outrun many of the species that it hunts.

Predators and Threats

Grizzly bear in snow

Bears may hunt injured or ailing cougars

©Dennis W Donohue/Shutterstock.com

The Puma is one of the most dominant predators throughout much of their natural environment and are therefore rarely preyed upon by other species. It has been known however, for Pumas that are vulnerable due to sickness or injury to be preyed upon by other large predators including Bears and Wolves, and even other Pumas. The biggest threat to the Puma however, is people who have not only hunted this large Cat (mainly for its fur) but have also subjected it to drastic habitat loss throughout much of its natural range, mainly due to expanding Human settlements and deforestation for agriculture. In some areas they are also hunted by ranch owners who blame Pumas for their loss of livestock.

Interesting Facts and Features

One of the most obvious reasons as to why this large and powerful feline is not classified as one of the world’s ‘big’ Cats is that Pumas are not able to roar. This is something distinctive to the ‘big’ Cat family as no other feline is able to do so. The powerful hind legs of the Puma are so muscular that they not only allow them to pounce on and secure their prey, but they are also able to leap enormous distances of up to 20ft. One of the most famous subspecies of Puma is the Florida Panther which is the smallest of the Puma species and also the rarest. Thought to be on the brink of extinction, this endangered animal has more of a red tinge to the fur on its back along with having a dark spot in the centre.

Relationship with Humans

The Puma is a fearsome predator and although attacks on Humans are rare, they do occur nonetheless. There have been nearly 100 recorded attacks on Humans but most of these occur because the Puma has been cornered or feels threatened in some way. Rare cases of severe starvation have also led to Pumas attacking Humans although this is not that common as people are not generally seen as prey to them. Puma population numbers throughout both North and South America have been declining over the past century particularly, mainly due to habitat loss and the shooting of Pumas by farmers who fear for their animals.

Conservation Status and Life Today

Despite being pushed into smaller regions of their vast historical range, the Puma has been listed by the IUCN as an animal that is of Least Concern of becoming extinct in its natural environment in the immediate future. This is because Pumas are not only incredibly adaptable animals but they are also quite common in the more remote mountainous regions. 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.

Similar Animals

  • Jaguar: Even larger than the puma, it is the only one of the big cats to exist in the Americas. Find out about this fierce feline which is not only fond of water, but is also capable of taking down caimans, too.
  • Leopard: Sleek, agile, and stealthy, this large feline found in Africa and Asia prefers to hunt by night. Discover more about this graceful predator, here.
  • Cheetah: It is the fastest predator on the planet. How does it do what it does? Click the link to discover all you need to know about this distant relative to the puma.

View all 192 animals that start with P

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About the Author

I love good books and the occasional cartoon. I am also endlessly intrigued with the beauty of nature and find hummingbirds, puppies, and marine wildlife to be the most magical creatures of all.

Puma FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are Pumas herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Pumas are Carnivores, meaning they eat other animals.

What Kingdom do Pumas belong to?

Pumas belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What class do Pumas belong to?

Pumas belong to the class Mammalia.

What phylum to Pumas belong to?

Pumas belong to the phylum Chordata.

What family do Pumas belong to?

Pumas belong to the family Felidae.

What order do Pumas belong to?

Pumas belong to the order Carnivora.

What type of covering do Pumas have?

Pumas are covered in Fur.

What genus do Pumas belong to?

Pumas belong to the genus Puma.

Where do Pumas live?

Pumas live in North and South America.

In what type of habitat do Pumas live?

Pumas live in mountain forests and jungles.

What are some predators of Pumas?

Predators of Pumas include bears, wolves, and pumas.

How many babies do Pumas have?

The average number of babies a Puma has is 4.

What is an interesting fact about Pumas?

Pumas have longer back legs than front legs!

What is the scientific name for the Puma?

The scientific name for the Puma is Felis concolor.

What is the lifespan of a Puma?

Pumas can live for 10 to 15 years.

What is a baby Puma called?

A baby Puma is called a cub.

How many species of Puma are there?

There are 7 species of Puma.

What is the biggest threat to the Puma?

The biggest threat to the Puma is habitat loss.

What is another name for the Puma?

The Puma is also called the cougar or mountain lion. The puma and mountain lion are the same animal.

How many Pumas are left in the world?

There are 50,000 Pumas left in the world.

How fast is a Puma?

A Puma can travel at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

Who would win a fight: Dogo Argentino vs Puma?

A puma would win a fight against a Dogo Argentino.

Pumas have the size, speed, and power advantages compared to Dogo Argentino, so there is no reason to think the canine would be the victor. The only real advantage the dog has is its stamina and willingness to stand its ground and fight to the death.

What's the difference between a puma and a jaguar?

When it comes to puma vs jaguar, the differences go beyond the spots. Pumas are spotless, while the jaguar has characteristic markings, but these felines also enjoy unique habitats and display distinct behaviors.

How to say Puma in ...
Bulgarian
Пума
Czech
Puma
Danish
Puma
German
Puma
English
Puma
Esperanto
Pumo
Spanish
Puma_concolores
Estonian
Puuma
Finnish
Puuma
French
Puma
Hebrew
פומה
Hungarian
Puma (állatnem)
Japanese
ピューマ属
Latin
Puma
Dutch
Poema
English
Fjelløveno
Polish
Puma
Portuguese
Suçuarana
Swedish
Puma
Turkish
Puma (cins)
Vietnamese
Báo sư tử
Chinese
美洲狮

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals
  7. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals
  8. About Pumas, Available here: http://www.wildlifesurvival.com/cougarinfo.htm
  9. Puma Information, Available here: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Puma_concolor.html

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