Kingdom : Animalia Class : Mammalia Family : Felidae Scientific Name : Felis concolor Colour : Brown, Red, Yellow, Grey Skin Type : Fur Size(H) : 1.1m - 2m (43in - 78.7in) Weight : 67kg - 105kg (148lbs - 231.5lbs) Top Speed : 45mph (30mph) Life Span : 10 - 15 years Most Distinctive Features : Has a solid-coloured coar of fur Fun Fact : Has longer back legs than front legs!
- Pumas are large secretive cats found predominantly in the mountains of Canada, North and South America.
- There are 7 subspecies of Puma varying slightly in color and size.
- They have a thick coat of fur to protect them from the freezing temperatures in the mountains.
- The color of their fur varies according to their location from brown yellow to grey-red.
- They are very powerful and agile and have enormous paws which are huge in comparison to their body size.
- They have a very acute sense of sight and hearing making them excellent predators.
- Pumas are very adaptable and found inhabiting mountains, forests, tropical jungles, grasslands and even arid deserts.
- They are solitary animals known to be very territorial too.
- Pumas breed between the months of December and march and the cubs are born after a 3-month gestation.
- Puma cubs are born blind and are very vulnerable, they are cared for by their mother for the first year.
- They do not have any natural predators except when they are injured or sick, when bears wolves and other pumas may attack them.
- Humans have known to hunt them for their fur.
- Pumas prey on small animals, sheep, raccoons, goats and livestock.
- Interestingly, the powerful paws help them jump up to 20ft in the air.
- The reason that they do not belong to the big-cat family is because they cannot roar.
- Their numbers have declined due to habitat loss and hunting but their adaptability is helping them sustain themselves.