Mountain Lions
Mountain Lions - Geographic RangeHistorically, Mountain Lions have had the most extensive distribution of all American terrestrial mammals. They could be found from coast to coast in North America, and from southern Argentina and Chile to southeastern Alaska.
Scientific Name - Puma concolor Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Cordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Puma Species: Puma Concolor Mountain Lions - RangeThese cats are most widely spread cats of America; they have the largest distibution than any other western hemisphere mammal. Mountain Lions also hold the record as the mammal with the most names.Mountain Lions - SubspeciesNorth America: P.c.borbensis, P.c.californicus, P.c.cougar, P.c.concolor, P.c.coryi, P.c.costaricensis. Central America: P.c.hippolestes, P.c.kaibabensis, P.c.oregonensis, P.c.schorgeri, P.c.stanleyana. South America: P.c.acrocodia, P.c.anthonyi, P.c.bangsi, P.c.greeni, P.c.hudsoni, P.c.osgoodi, P.c.pearsoni, P.c.puma. Mountain Lions - Life spanMountain Lions live for an average of 12-13 years, but in captivity they can live for up to 21 years.
Mountain Lions - StatisticsBody length: 105-180cm, tail length: 60-90cm, shoulder height: 56-78cm. Average weight: males: 53-72kg, females: 34-48kg. Males can have exceptional weight up to 120kg. Mountain Lions - Physical DescriptionMountain Lions are large, slender cats with muscular limbs and large feet. The hind legs are proportionally the longest of the cat family. They have coats colored of gray or brown which is short and coarse in texture. The Mountain Lion has a pink nose. The underside is creamy white and there is a white throat and chest. The tip of the tail is black and they have black muzzle with stripes. And, they are black behind the ears. The tail is very long and reaches a third of the cat's total length.Mountain Lions - Food HabitsMountain Loins are predatory carnivores, whose main prey is the white-tailed deer. Other prey species include rabbit, raccoon, wild hog, armadillo, and birds. Research indicates that about 80 to 90% of a lion's diet is deer. An adult lion kills one deer per week. Other prey species include elk and smaller mammals. What the lion does not eat, other predators and scavengers, such as coyotes, foxes, hawks, eagles and crows, use. Prey is dragged to a concealed place before another animal can eat it. The forequarters of the carcass are eaten first, and the rest is buried with grass by the Mountain Lion and fed upon later. Mountain Lions will kill and eat domestic livestock also.
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