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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Florida
panther, mountain lion, puma, cougar |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Carnivora |
| FAMILY: |
Felidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Felis
concolor (plain - refers to the coat color);
subspecies |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Mountain
lions are the largest species of cat native to North
America. Their coats are typically a uniform silver-gray,
tawny or reddish-brown in color although some are
occasionally melanistic (black) and rarely albino.
Kittens tend to have a spotted coat and blue eyes.
Physically, Florida panthers differ slightly from
other Felis concolor subspecies - they are
darker in color, they have longer legs with smaller
feet, and are lighter in weight. |
| MALE |
Adult
males tend to be larger than mature females. |
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| SIZE: |
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| MALE |
Mature
males measure more than 2 m (6.6 ft.) from the nose
to the tip of the tail, and stand 60-70 cm (24-28
in.) at the shoulders. |
| FEMALE |
Adult
females measure about 1.8 m (6 ft.) in length from
the nose to the tip of the tail. |
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| WEIGHT: |
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| MALE |
Wild
adult males weigh from 48-67 kg (106-148 lb.) |
| FEMALE |
Adult
females weigh about 29-45 kg (65-100 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
An
adult Florida panther needs to eat about 35-50 deer-sized
animals each year, although females with cubs may
need twice that amount. Besides white-tailed deer,
Florida panthers may eat rabbits, wild hogs, birds,
armadillos, rats, carrion, and grass. There is even
a documented report of the panthers eating two alligators
in the Everglades National Park. |
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| GESTATION: |
Gestational
period 90-95 days; On average, females give birth
to 1-4 kittens and care for their kittens in dens
usually in areas of dense palmetto trees. |
| ESTRAL
PERIOD |
Estral
period 8 days, the cycle lasts 23 days. Females
of this species are induced ovulators - triggered
by copulation an egg is released from the ovary. |
| NURSING
DURATION |
9-12
months (wean) |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
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| MALE |
26-30
months |
| FEMALE |
22-23
months |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
10-12
years or more |
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| HABITAT: |
Typically
found in remote and fairly undisturbed areas with
abundant prey and cover |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Between
30-50 panthers |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Critically
Endangered (for F.c.coryi and F.c.couguar) |
| CITES |
Appendix
I (for F.c.coryi) |
| USFWS |
Endangered |
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| 1. |
The
Florida panther is the only mountain lion subspecies
found east of the Mississippi River. The few remaining
wild individuals live in remote wilderness areas. |
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| 2. |
Florida panthers can leap more than 4 m (15 ft.)
when pouncing on their prey. There are no documented
cases of attacks on humans in Florida. |
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| 3. |
Although mountain lions are one of the largest species
of cat found in North America, they actually have
more in common with the house cat than a lion or
tiger. Unlike other large cats, mountain lions lack
a flexible hyoid and are unable to roar. |
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With a population that numbers only between 30-50
individuals, Florida panthers have become one of
most rare and endangered animals in the United States.
The greatest threat to Florida panthers is habitat
loss. These animals require large territories of
undisturbed land with sufficient prey.
A simple road may divide panther habitat, resulting
in fewer breeding opportunities. With Florida
panthers being separated from potential mates,
they are forced to breed within a very small stock.
Inbreeding has become a disturbing new pitfall.
The close proximity of the road presents deadly
hazard to the panthers. From 1978 to 1988, cars
on the roadways in Florida killed 11 panthers.
Currently, wildlife crossing signs, fences and
underpasses help reduce deaths from collisions
with automobiles.
Other pressures facing Florida panthers include
exposure to domestic cat and dog diseases such
as parvovirus, feline leukemia, feline HIV and
rabies. Because the population numbers are so
low in this subspecies, these animals may have
less effective immune systems resulting from inbreeding
and be more prone to disease or parasite infection.
This is the official state mammal of Florida,
and state law as well as the Endangered Species
Act protects Florida panthers.
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|
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Nowak,
Ronald M. (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the World.
Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.
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Parker, S. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals.
New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 1990. |
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www.endangered.fws.gov
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| Florida
Panther Net: www.panther.state.fl.us |
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| IUCN
cat specialist group: http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/puma-08.htm |
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| http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu |
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