Description ²

Pumas have a long body with unusually long hindlimbs, a long neck, a small, broad head, short, rounded ears that are black on the back, and a long, cylindrical tail with a black tip. The coat is of uniform color, the throat, chest and belly a whitish color and the sides of the muzzle are framed in black. Young kittens are spotted, with blue eyes. Males rarely weigh more than 100 kilograms.

Habitat ³

Studies have shown that habitat with dense understorey vegetation is preferred, but these cats can also live in open areas with sparse vegetative cover. Although terrestrial, pumas can swim and climb trees when they need to.

Conservation status ⁴

Florida panthers are listed as endangered in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Mammal Red Data Book. The state of Florida lists Florida panthers as endangered.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) 2001 California Academy of Sciences, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=31646&one=T
2. Adapted by okaloosascience from a work by (c) Wildscreen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/6687380
3. Adapted by okaloosascience from a work by (c) Wildscreen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/6687382
4. Adapted by okaloosascience from a work by Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24645255

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• ASM Mammal Diversity Database
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CalPhotos
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• iNaturalist Mammal Working Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet

Range Map

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