Puma concolor
Just like your cat quietly walking in your home, the mountain lion is just as quiet and secretive, but on a much larger scale. These apex predators feed mainly on mule deer and elk. They also will prey on smaller animals including rabbits, jackrabbits, javelinas, and rodents.
Fun Facts
- Unlike other large cats, they cannot roar! Instead, they growl, shriek, hiss and purr.
- They are often referred to as “the cat of many names” – mountain lion, cougar, panther, puma, painter, el leon, and catamount are all used to identify them.
- Mountain lions don’t leave a nail mark and their pads are shaped like an “M”.
- They can jump 15 feet high and 40 feet in distance.
Classification
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Puma
Species: concolor
Habitat
Mountain lions used to occupy the entire United States coast-to-coast, but today they are primarily found in 14 western states with a small endangered population in Florida.