mountain lion
(Puma concolor)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N3 - Vulnerable S3 - Vulnerable |
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| Minnesota | Special Concern Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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Mountain lions are uniformly buff above, lighter below. There is usually a dark stripe down the middle of the back. The neck, chest, and belly are lighter. The fur is short and dense. The back of the ears, the sides of the nose, and the tip of the tail are dark brown. Juveniles (cubs) are spotted. |
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Size |
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Total length: 34″ to 61″ Tail: 21″ to 32″ |
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Sign |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Mostly remote, heavily forested areas, but also agricultural areas. |
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Ecology |
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Behavior |
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Lifespan |
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18 to 20 years |
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Life Cycle |
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Food |
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Mostly deer |
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Distribution |
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Sources According to the Minnesota DNR, “there is no evidence of a viable breeding population in Minnesota.” The map at left includes sightings verified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.. |
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| 5/17/2022 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Occasional visitor |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Mammalia (mammals) | ||
| Subclass | Theria | ||
| Infraclass | Eutheria (placental mammals) | ||
| Magnorder | Boreoeutheria | ||
| Superorder | Laurasiatheria (ungulates, carnivorans, and allies) | ||
| Order | Carnivora (carnivorans) | ||
| Suborder | Feliformia (cat-like carnivores) | ||
Family |
Felidae (cat) | ||
Subfamily |
Felinae (small cats) | ||
Genus |
Puma | ||
This species was formerly named Felis concolor, placed in the genus with the domestic cat In 1993 its name was changed to Puma concolor, placing it in the genus with jaguarundi, a mammal only slightly larger than the domestic cat. The move was controversial because the species is more closely to the domestic cat than to the jaguar. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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Until recently, 32 subspecies were recognized. In 2000, mitochondrial DNA analysis showed that most of those are too similar to deserve subspecies recognition. There are currently only six subspecies recognized, only one, eastern cougar (Puma concolor couguar), occurs in North America north of Latin America. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) concluded in 2011 that the eastern cougar (Puma concolor couguar) has been extinct since the 1930s. Subsequent sightings in the eastern United States, according to USFWS, represent individuals that escaped or were released from captivity, individuals of a western subspecies that have wandered east, misidentification of smaller cat species, and deception or self-deception (ala “bigfoot” sightings). |
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Argentine cougar (Puma concolor cabrerae) Costa Rican cougar (Puma concolor costaricensis) Eastern South American cougar (Puma concolor anthonyi) North American cougar (Puma concolor couguar) Northern South American cougar (Puma concolor concolor) Southern South American cougar (Puma concolor puma) |
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Synonyms |
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Felis concolor |
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Common Names |
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cougar mountain lion panther puma |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this mammal. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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LJHarren |
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juveniles? not certain as these appear the size of Bobcats but tails are too long and ears are not tufted. |
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Ramona Abrego |
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Captive – Wildlife Science Center |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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| Cougar DianesDigitals |
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About
Copyright DianesDigitals |
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| Cougar Valerie |
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| Pumas (Cougars, Mountain Lions) Steve Tracy Photography |
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| Mountain Lion Biology MtnLionFdn |
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About
Uploaded on May 12, 2011 The Mountain Lion Foundation presents information about the biology and behavior of America's Lion, the mountain lion which is also known as cougar, panther, puma, painter, tyger, ghost walker, klandagi, cuguacuarana, leopardo, catamount, koe-ishto, ko-icto, el leon, mountain cat, mountain screamer, felis concolor, and puma concolor. |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this mammal. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Other Videos |
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| Puma Concolor Couguar AC Vector Control Services |
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About
Uploaded on Aug 11, 2011 Mountain Lion (Puma concolor couguar) being trapped. |
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| Cougars: From the Mountains to Hollywood | Nat Geo Live National Geographic |
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About
Published on Jan 27, 2014 Wildlife photographer Steve Winter combines patience and groundbreaking technology to photograph North America's elusive and nocturnal big cat. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe About National Geographic: Get More National Geographic: Upcoming Events at National Geographic Live! The National Geographic Live! series brings thought-provoking presentations by today's leading explorers, scientists, photographers, and performing artists right to your YouTube feed. Each presentation is filmed in front of a live audience at National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C. New clips air every Monday. Cougars: From the Mountains to Hollywood | Nat Geo Live National Geographic |
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| Eastern Cougar Declared Extinct The Global Report TV |
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About
Uploaded on Mar 11, 2011 The eastern cougar has been declared extinct, according to a report issued this past week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. |
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| Mountain Lion Stand Off With Hiker Trevor Rasmussen |
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About
Published on Jul 16, 2015 Here is my standoff with a mountain lion that happened last summer in Glacier National Park. I did see the abscess when filming it and the first thing I did when I got out of the woods was report it to some rangers. I showed them the video, the abscess and told them the location where it happened. Fortunately it was in a place that was easy enough to remember and the park rangers were on top of it. :) I was carrying bear spray. https://www.facebook.com/FronkeyAdventures/ To use this video in a commercial player or in broadcasts, please email licensing@storyful.com Please like, comment and share. Thanks a lot! |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this mammal. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| LJHarren 5/17/2022 |
Location: Rogers, MN juveniles? not certain as these appear the size of Bobcats but tails are too long and ears are not tufted. |
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| Ramona Abrego | Location: Wildlife Science Center Captive |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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