The puma or puma concolor is one of the carnivorous mammals that can be found in the American continent Although its size is considerable, it is classified like a small feline because it doesn't roar like some of its closest relatives, it simply purrs.
It occupies a large territory in America and we can find it from Canada to Argentina. It has a wide distribution thanks to its adaptability in different habitats: we can find it in forests, mountainous deserts or lowlands. It is the second largest feline in America, after the jaguar, as well as the fourth largest in the world, behind the lion, the tiger, the jaguar and sharing fourth place with the leopard.
On our site we will explain where the cougar lives, what its habitat and specific distribution is like, and other details that you will love to know:
The Cougar in North America
The cougar can be found in North America, specifically the Puma concolor coucaguar subspecies, which can be found throughout North America, as far north as Nicaragua. This subspecies is officially extinct in the Eastern United States, so it can only be found in the West.
In Canada there are approximately 3,000 cougars, while in the United States there is an average of 10,000 cougars. It is a species that is in danger of extinction, classified as vulnerable and that only occupies 5% of the territory it once occupied.
Cougars' diet in the United States is based on wild boar, white-tailed deer or mule deer, but it adapts perfectly depending on the environment in which it is found.
The puma in Central America
We can also find a subspecies of the puma in Central America, it is the Puma concolor costaricensis, which is popularly known as the Central American puma or Costa Rican puma. Although much of its habitat has been destroyed, we can still find specimens in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
This feline lives with the North American subspecies and with the South American subspecies, in Nicaragua and Panama, respectively. It lives in dry forests, humid forests and gallery forests, however its favorite places are mountains and dense forests
The puma in South America
In South America it is the place in where there are more subspecies of puma, with a total of four. In the first place is the Puma concolor concolor or puma from the north of South America. It has also been threatened by the destruction of much of its habitat, but we can find it in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.
There is also the Puma concolor cabrerae or Argentine puma, which can be found in Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. The Puma concolor anthonyi or puma from Eastern South America is also on the list, which can be seen in Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, in this last place it is very rare from see and was thought to be extinct
Last but not least is the Puma concolor puma or South American cougar. This subspecies can be found in Chile and Argentina, it is the southernmost of all and the one that supports lower temperatures All these species have in common that they adapt to almost any type of habitat, from mountainous regions to low regions, hot, temperate and cold climates. In addition, it is one of the 10 highest jumping animals in the world.
The puma yagouaroundi
Finally, we find the Puma yagouaroundi or simply jaguarundí, it is an animal that belongs to the puma genus, but smaller in sizethan its relative, the Puma concolor. It measures from 50 to 70 cm and hunts small animals, it is a little larger than a common cat, with a face similar to that of a puma as such.
It is also an American animal, present from South Texas, Mexico, through Central America and to the Andes region in South America. It lives near streams, in highlands, thickets, forests and grasslands Depending on the region where it is found, it is known as the red cat, alligator cat, otter cat, among others.
